Cuscuta

Dodder
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Solanales Family: Cuscutaceae Genus: Cuscuta
Species
C. americana C. applanata C. approximata C. attenuata C. boldinghii C. brachycalyx C. californica C. cassytoides C. ceanothi C. cephalanthi C. compacta C. coryli C. corylii C. cuspidata C. decipiens C. dentatasquamata C. denticulata C. epilinum C. epithymum C. erosa C. europaea C. exaltata C. fasciculata C. globulosa C. glomerata C. gronovii C. harperi C. howelliana C. indecora C. indesora C. japonica C. jepsoni C. leptantha C. megalocarpa C. mitriformis C. obtusiflora C. odontolepis C. pentagona C. plattensis C. polygonorum C. potosina C. potosona C. reflexa C. rostrata C. runyonii C. salina C. sandwichiana C. squamata C. suaveolens C. suksdorfii C. tuberculata C. umbellata C. vivipara C. warneri Ref: ITIS 30710 (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=30710) as of 2002-05-30

Dodder (Cuscuta) is a parasitic plant, the only genus in the family Cuscutaceae (sometimes placed in the family Convolvulaceae) in the order Solanales. A dodder seed sprouts, grows a short root and a long stem, and starts searching for a host. When it finds one, it twines around the host stem and sends roots in, called haustoria[?]. It grows branches, which twine around neighboring stems, resulting in what looks like a mess of spaghetti. Dodder has no chlorophyll, so it must find a host or die.