Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1913-02-06
CHARACTER OF DODDER
Depends on Host for Support ane
Its Food Supply
AZ First Growth is Apparently ,ns,a
nisfcant, but With Rapid Increase
In Branching Soon Becomes
Hard to Control.
aBy f. H. HlLLMANA-

Dodder Is parasite deriving Its
food not from the soil, but directly
from the crop plants which 1t infests
In this respect 1t is unlike the Ordi.
nary weeds OF the farm. 1t starta
from seed. at first deriving its
nourishment from the food supply
stored within the seed. During this
period 1t develops slender, thread.
like and leafless stem. 1t is the habit
OF the dodder to climb by twining. and
the young stem swats about in search
OF support. Failing to find a suit.
able support 1t dies when the food
stored within the seed is exhausted
II a suitable support. such as the
stem. leaf stems. or even leaf blades
of clover. is found. the dodder rap
idly twines about 1t, sending out from
its stem numerous suckers which
penetrate the tissues OF the plant upon
which 1t rests. termed the host plant
The dodder Is subsequently dependent
on Its host for both its mechanical
support and it's food supply The twin.
ing Of the dodder stem and the cling
mechanical support necessary, while
the penetration Of the suckers to the
sap-conyeying tissues of the host
plant insures direct communication
with the food prepared by the latter
for Its own use.
After becoming established on the
host plant the part OF the dodder
plant below the point Of attachment
dies. Above this point the plant
makes rapid growth, branching re
peatedly. Its branches ultimately
forming tangled mass OF threadlike
filaments when under conditions
favorable for luxuriant growth Al
first the growth is apparently insig
nif1cant, but with the rapid increase
In the branching the total growth
soon become very conspicuous, and
In some instances progresses with ex-
ceptional rapidly. rendering its con.
troll very difficult.
Dodder depends on prepared food.
Independent food manufacture be.
comes unnecessary. and consequently
the plant is devoid of leaves, as we'll
as Of root, and usually is devoid Of
the green color common to other
plants. Certain species are strongly
tinged with green. however. and
doubtless are capable of food produc.
ton to some extent
Sections OF the dodder stems re-
moved from the main plant retain
their vitality and power of coiling
and producing suckers for several
days at least under favorable condi-
lions. In consequence Of this, II
pieces OF plants are allowed to re-
main in contact with a suitable host
plant for short time they become at
tached to the latter and form new
centers Of growth. In this way new
patches Of the pest may become es.
tablished in the field.
Dodder plants are to be distinguish
ed by their slender. threadlike steams,
which are lemon yellow. orange, or
pink. They may appear to conflne
their attack to a single plant in a
place or may spread uniformly from
plant to plant. either near the ground
or from the tops Of the plants. Small
white flowers, mostly in clusters, are
produced by midsummer. The flowers
may be few and scattered, or. owing
to thrifty growth. they may be more
numerous and. becoming crowded,
form dense punches.
Seeds ripen throughout the central
United States from the middle Of July
into September. As rule, the dod.
ders are profuse seed producers. but
seed production is strongly influenced
by the character Of the host, its
treatment as crop. and by the con-
dit!on Of the weather during the flow.
ering season Of the dodder.