Book excerpt: Mistletoes are an enigmatic group of plants. Lacking roots and depending on other plants for their livelihood, they have inspired a range of beliefs throughout the world. Some people regard them as being endowed with magical properties, others as destructive weeds that devalue native habitats, and still others as beautiful native plants that support wildlife. This second edition of Mistletoes of Southern Australia is the definitive authority on these intriguing native plants. With specially commissioned watercolours by artist Robyn Hulley and more than 130 colour photographs, it provides detailed species accounts for all 47 species found in the region. It is fully updated throughout, with new distribution maps and new sections on fire, climate change and mistletoes in urban areas. It also describes the ecology, life history and cultural significance of mistletoes, their distribution in Australia and around the world, and practical advice on their management.