With names like Devil’s Guts, Strangle Weed, and Love Vine, this common plant undoubtedly lives an unconventional life. Soon after germinating, this twining plant finds a suitable host before biting it and sucking out its nutrients.
Here in Pennsylvania, most people call this plant Dodder — a name derived from the word “dotter,” which refers to the yolk of an egg. Dodder (genus Cuscuta) is ecologically referred to as a parasite because it relies almost exclusively on another plant to meet its nutrient needs.
This plant is incredibly fascinating for an infinite amount of reasons, many of which I cover in the following video.
If you’re interested in learning more about this unconventional plant, check it out!