ALL+互動英語[有聲版]：【進階、應用】聽說讀寫全面升級 2023年12月號第229期 (電子雜誌)

The Unromantic Truth about Mistletoe
揭開槲寄生不浪漫的真相
Bertus van Aswegen
12/18
Christmastime is here, and that means Christmas trees, bells, stars, and stockings are everywhere. Another common Christmas decoration is mistletoe, which people traditionally kiss under whenever they stand beneath it. Kissing under the mistletoe is surely the most romantic of the holiday traditions, but the plant itself is actually quite unromantic. 
The name says it all.
The word mistletoe comes from the Old English misteltan, in which mistel means “poop” and tan means “twig.” The name derives from the fact that the seeds of the plant are spread by birds that eat the plant’s berries. After being digested and pooped out by a bird, the seeds are so sticky that they stick to whatever tree branches they land on, where they then grow into new mistletoe plants. 
Mistletoe is a parasite.
Although it partially relies on sunlight for survival, a mistletoe plant gets most of its nutrients from the tree to which it’s attached. The roots of the mistletoe penetrate through the bark of the host tree, allowing the mistletoe to absorb water and nutrients from the tree. This in turn allows the plant to stay green all year round, even in winter. 
聖誕節來臨，這意味著聖誕樹、鈴鐺、星星和長筒襪隨處可見。另一種常見的聖誕裝飾是槲寄生，傳統上每當人們站在它下面時都會接吻。在槲寄生下親吻無疑是節日傳統中最浪漫的，但這種植物本身實際上挺不浪漫的。
名字道盡一切。
槲寄生（mistletoe）這個字來自古英語的misteltan，其中mistel意思是排泄物，而tan意指細枝。這個名字源自於這種植物的種子是由吃該植物漿果的鳥類傳播的。被鳥消化並排出後，種子會變得有黏性，以致於它們會黏在任何它們降落的樹枝上，然後在那裡長成新的槲寄生植物。
槲寄生是一種寄生植物。
雖然槲寄生植物在某種程度上仰賴陽光來生存，但它大部分的養分都是從它依附的樹上獲取的。槲寄生的根會穿透宿主樹的樹皮，使槲寄生得以從那棵樹吸收水分和養分。因而使該植物全年保持綠意，即使在冬季也是如此。
12/19
Mistletoe has no smell.
Christmas is associated with a variety of scents and smells, from peppermint and ginger to freshly baked cookies and pine trees. Mistletoe is not on the list, though, since it has no smell at all. So, even though some supposedly mistletoe-scented products are sold, they’re likely only inspired by the plant and its romantic associations.
Mistletoe can be medicine.
For hundreds of years, people have used mistletoe to treat ailments such as high blood pressure, headaches, asthma, and more. It’s also used to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients, most commonly as an extract that’s injected under the patient’s skin. It’s important to note, though, that mistletoe can be toxic to humans and pets. Therefore, treatments containing mistletoe should only be taken if prescribed by medical professionals, and the plant itself should be kept away from pets.
In short, there’s much more to this peculiar plant than just kisses at Christmastime. However, when it comes to those Christmas kisses, it might be best to forget the whole “poop-on-a-stick” name when you find yourself standing under the mistletoe.
槲寄生沒有味道。
聖誕節與各種香氣和氣味聯繫在一起，從薄荷和薑到新鮮出爐的餅乾和松樹。然而，槲寄生並不在名單上，因為它沒有任何氣味。所以，儘管有一些據稱是槲寄生香味的產品在販售，但它們很可能只是受到這種植物及其浪漫的聯想而得到靈感。
槲寄生可以入藥。
數百年來，人們一直使用槲寄生來治療高血壓、頭痛、哮喘等疾病。它還被用來減輕癌症患者接受化療的副作用，最常見的是作為萃取物注射到患者的皮下。但重要的是要注意，槲寄生可能對人類和寵物有毒性。因此，含有槲寄生的治療方法應只有在醫療專業人員開立處方下進行，且應讓這種植物遠離寵物。
總之，這種奇特的植物不只是聖誕節期間的親吻。然而，說到那些聖誕之吻時，當你發現自己站在槲寄生下，最好是忘掉「枝枒上的排泄物」這個名字。

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揭開槲寄生不浪漫的真相

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