Parasitic plant refers to a plant that can’t survive on its own. It gets all the important nutrition from the host (which is another plant) and yet this parasite doesn’t contribute to anything beneficial for the host. In some cases, the parasitic plant can even damage the host severely. All parasitic plants have the so-called haustorium, which is a unique organ used to penetrate the host, creating a union or interaction between plants.
Definition of Parasitic Plants
A lot of people think that aerophytes, epiphytes, lianas, or climbing vines are parasites. In reality, they are wrong. It’s true that these plants need support to grow, but they don’t take or rob other plants’ nutrients. They simply use other plants for support structure, but they are able to make their own nutrients without having to steal from those support plants.
In general, parasitic plants are more harmful than being beneficial. They can’t contribute anything positive to the host, and they tend to steal important nutrients from those hosts.
Some Common Parasites
There are some known parasitic plants on trees.
Dodder is known as this vine-like and twinning plant often found within the Morning Glory family. It generally comes as a light orange and brown hue. Some people even say that it looks like a silly string or spaghetti. It isn’t able to make its own chlorophyll, which explains the lack of greenish hue, and it drains the host’s nutrients. You shouldn’t let it untreated because it can spread fast. The host would be prone to disease, parasites, and pests.
Oak mistletoe. The plant has this green ball appearance. It may also look like leaves mass you can see on the tree branch. When left untreated, the mass will definitely grow, reaching 3 feet tall. The host becomes weak because the parasite will steal away the water and nutrients.
Dwarf mistletoe. Unlike the oak mistletoe, this one has a bold orange and yellow color. It looks like a coral, with very thick clusters of twiggy and small branches. It is not as circular as the oak mistletoe, but it’s spinier. The parasite can change the host’s structural characteristics.
Never underestimate the plants because not only can they cause significant damage to the tree, but they can also attack those trees, especially when they aren’t identified right away and then removed. The plants will steal all the precious nutrients, inhabit the growth, and cause the trees to be prone to pests, failure, or diseases.
When you see these signs, they are commonly known as the infection signs:
Tree cankers. You see dead sections of the tree bark
Branch brooms. You see these unusual and somewhat strange numbers of branches or twigs growing from one branch
Bole swelling. There is an existence of big swelling mass from the tree trunk
The best thing that you can do about the parasitic plants is to contact a professional arborist. They can help you remove the plants without harming the host. Don’t try to remove the parasitic plant by yourself, unless you are ready with the consequences and possible risks.