Almost every corner of the globe is home to a wide array of different organisms. But despite this diversity, there are groups of animals that share the most unlikely of similarities. Sticking to the UK, each week for 12 weeks I will test your skills in identifying 12 different organisms that share one characteristic. They can be a plant or a fungi, a bird or a mammal, a fish or an insect!MAGICAL MYSTERY QUIZ#2Clue: Pull a cracker and pucker up.
I am sticking with Mistletoe because somewhere in the back of my brain 'Mavis' is a country name for the Mistle Thrush. Mistletoe needs a bird to spread the seed, when they wipe the sticky white outer coating off their beaks on the branch of a suitable tree the seed is transfered into the bark and hopefully it can take root from there. That is my story and I am sticking to it :)
Caroline in Jersey
Cin J
I still think we were right first time Caroline but just had to play the anagram idea in we haven't had one recently.Mavis is certainly a Dales name for Mistletoe not sure about the rest of the country.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
no clue on this 1 .... mistletoe fits well with 1st clue ... no clue about the 2nd clue
Answer tomorrow!
Ah well I have been wrong before
So have I :)
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Mistletoe (Viscum album). First a bit about the clues! First clue: Pucker up and pull a cracker. This refers to the custom of kissing under the Mistletoe at Christmas. Pucker up refers to the preparation to a kiss and cracker as in festive Christmas cracker. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe dates from the 16th Century. Mistletoe is also used as a decoration at Christmas. The second clue: My thanks to Mavis. This refers to how the seeds of the mistletoe plant are spread. Mavis is the Scottish name for Mistle thrush. Many birds, such as the Mistle thrush, will eat this plant and either regurgitate the seeds via their crop or pass them in their droppings.
Found throughout the UK on a wide range of trees, Mistletoe with its smooth edged oval leaves has waxy white berries that form clusters. Though birds can eat them, they are poisonous to humans and can cause serious stomach complaints.
A picture of Mistletoe is found here.
Did you know that: mistletoe is said to be the Golden bough of Aeneas, ancestor of the Romans.
Keep an eye out for next week’s mystery quiz!
Take care,
Claire
Nice one Caroline