Dodder
Cuscuta sp?
Photographed near Eldoret, Kenya. January 2012.
Looking like great handfulls of yellow spaghetti draped over shrubs and plants, dodder is easily recognized. There is no chlorophyl and the leaves are reduced to scales because the plants have specialized adventitious roots (hausteria) that penetrate into the supporting plant and draw all needed nutrients and water there from. Flowers are small and creamy white and occur in clusters. There are several species of Cuscuta that are difficult for a casual naturalist to distinguish.