Viscum cruciatum Sieber ex Spreng.

In Pakistan the species grows in the Kurram Valley and Swat, mostly on olive trees. It is also valuable as decoration during the Christmas season.

Plant bushy; stem up to 60 cm long, dichotomously branched, jointed. Leaves sessile, 2-4 cm long, 0.6 to 1.3 cm braod, elliptic to oblanceolate, entire, obtuse, 3-nerved. Flowers sessile in 2-4 flowered, pedunculate fascicles; peduncle 3-5 mm long; bracts 2, 1.5-2 mm long, acute connate, forming a boat-shaped bracteal cup. Perianth lobes 3-4, thick, triangular, 1 mm long, caducous. Stamens 4; anther dehiscence porose. Ovary sessile, obovoid, 2 mm long; stigma conical, 0.5 mm long. Berry subglobose, 6 mm long, 1-seeded, red.

Distribution: S.W. Spain, S. Portugal, N. Africa, Australia and Asia.

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Viscum cruciatum, commonly called the red-berry mistletoe, is a species of mistletoe in the family Santalaceae. It is native to Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, and Syria.

The plant has small leaves. The flowers have four petals. The berries are red containing 1 seed. All parts of the plants are poisonous if eaten. Its fruit is harmless to birds which disperse the seeds. It is used as a Christmas decoration.