T. Kirk. — Naturalized Dodders and Broom-tapes. 183 



lucerne was very weak and thin, but there was very little 

 dodder ; subsequently the crop died out. The lucerne dodder 

 has been observed in several localities in the Canterbury District. 



The Clover Dodder. 



Cuscuta epithymum, L., var. trifolii. 



This was first observed on red clover in the Waikato, in 

 1870, and still makes its appearance in clover fields in that 

 district, but does not cause so great an amount of damage as in 

 Europe. It has also been noticed in Southland, and in all 

 intermediate districts except Taranaki and Westland. In 

 Southland its ravages are of a serious character, though happily 

 limited to a small area. It is the most destructive species 

 which the agriculturist has to encounter, and is sometimes 

 designated " Devil's guts." 



The Flax Dodder. 



Cuscuta epilinum, Weibe. 



I have been informed that this species was observed in the 

 Canterbury District about three years ago, but have seen no 

 specimens. 



Prevention. 



Dodders are introduced into cultivation with the seeds of 

 lucerne, clover, flax, and other plants. As the seeds of dodder 

 may easily be recognised, a careful examination of the clover, 

 lucerne, or flax seed by a practised eye will easily determine its 

 presence or absence. It is only fair to say that English-grown 

 seeds are remarkably free from dodder. Seeds from the Euro- 

 pean Continent usually contain a large percentage. I never 

 saw a sample of Russian flax that was Iree from dodder, and the 

 same must be said of Californian alfalfa. 



When dodder is once established it is not easy to eradicate 

 it. I only know one plan likely to be successful. Mow the 

 affected portions close to the ground, and burn it at once, taking 

 care to char the stumps so as to destroy vitality. 



Two species of Cuscuta are indigenous to New Zealand : 

 one, C. densiflora, is rare, being found only in Marlborough and 

 Otago, in both cases growing on Fuchsia excorticata. 



The other, C. noca-zealandice, grows on small herbaceous 

 plants, grasses, fern, and low-growing shrubs. Like its imported 

 congeners it may become a pest to the farmer, as it occasionally 

 kills small patches of grass by exhaustion. 



Broom-rapes. 



These are erect parasitic plants with succulent simple stems, 

 the upper portions being crowded with sessile flowers ; the 

 whole plant being of a lurid brown hue. They are leafless, 



