Dodder
the common name for plants of the genus Cuscuta. There are several species; they are slender, thread-like, twining, leafless parasites, involving and destroying the whole plants on which they grow. Two species are natives of England: C. epithymum, which grows abundantly on ericas, and C. europæa, upon thistles and nettles or other soft plants within its reach, bringing them ades two other species have accidentally been introduced: viz., flax dodder and clover dodder. The first destroys whole fields of flax, and the latter preys to a great extent on clover, both plants being the cause of great losses to the agriculturist. In India, some species are very large and powerful, involving trees of considerable size in their grasp. final destruction. Within a few dec-