Greater Dodder

Greater Dodder (Cuscuta europaea) is a parasitic plant. It does not have leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host. It twines itself around the host plant and penetrates it with suckers in order to obtain nutrients. It is in flower from August to September. Dog Rose (Rosa canina) was the host for this Dodder. Photo taken by my wife on August 7, 2007 on the slopes of Mount Przymiarki at 620 meters.