Common Dodder

Description:

Cuscuta campestris is an annual stem parasitic plant. It lacks normal roots and leaves, but does bear flowers and fruits. Cuscuta species have a very distinct appearance, consisting mainly of leafless, smooth, yellow or orange twining stems and tendrils, with inconspicuous scales in the place of leaves. C. campestris has yellow to pale orange true stems, about 0.3 mm in diameter, which generally do not twine and attach to the host, but produce tendrils of similar appearance which form coils and haustoria - a specialised root-like sucker which penetrates another plant (a host) and obtains water and nutrients from it (Dawson, 1984). The seedling has only a rudimentary root for anchorage. The root and shoot below this initial attachment soon die, leaving no direct contact with the soil.