Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 9/4/2011

Question
Hello
I live in the South-east side of Florida. I was wondering if you could tell me who I could write to ask about a vine that grows down here?

It is green, grows on the top of hedges and trees. The vine has no leaves, just a thin, green vine; lots of vines, covering the bushes like a "blanket."

I have seen it for years. Never knew what it is.

Answer
Dear David,

If you can send a picture, I can better confirm the identity.  But it sounds like you're seeing a vine commonly called "Dodder".  It's in the Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae), though it doesn't look much like the Morning Glories you plant as ornamentals.  Dodder is a parasite.

In the summer and spring, it's often green.  But in autumn and winter it loses its chlorophyll and become orange or reddish, depending on species.  It then feeds off the host plant in which it has grown its parasitic extensions (haustoria) that tap into the vascular system of the host plant, allowing the Dodder to feed.

You can read more about this interesting, if pesky, European introduced species at various sites:

http://www.google.com/search?q=dodder&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-

Hope that helps solve the mystery!

Dana