A parasite like mistletoe; because mistletoe has green leaves, it can photosynthesize; thus it only absorbs nutrients and water from its host.

an organism which lives on and derives part of its nourishment from a different organism, and is partially self-supporting. cf. parasite.

parasitic flowering plant that contains chlorophyll when mature (photosynthetic) and obtains water with dissolved nutrients by connecting to the host xylem via the haustorium, e.g. true mistletoe ( Phoradendron spp. or Viscum spp.) or witchweed ( Striga spp.)