CUSCU'TA VERRUCO'SA. 



WART-CALYXED DODDER. 

 Class. Order. 



PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA, 



Natural Order. 



CONVOLVULACE.fi. 



No. 10. 



Some authors have deduced the word Cuscuta, 

 from the modern Greek, others from a similar Asiatic 

 word. Verrucosa, from the Latin verruca, a wart. 

 The English appellation, Dodder, seems to have 

 been derived from the German word Dotter, or 

 Dutch Tauteren, signifying to shoot up. 



This is a plant which twines round ivy or shrubs 

 of any description that it comes in contact with ; 

 and though raised from seeds in the soil, as are most 

 other vegetables, yet no sooner does it meet with 

 support from a neighbouring branch, than, like many 

 individuals of a superior order of creation, it quits 

 its original friend and supporter, and clings to a new 

 acquaintance. It twines in a direction contrary to 

 the apparent course of the sun, and throwing out 

 little vesicles which attach themselves to the plant 

 that supports it, thereby draws its necessary nutri- 

 ment, and dies off at the root, becoming completely 

 parasitical. 



It flourishes most on soft succulent shrubs ; and 

 should severe frosts destroy it, young plants may be 

 raised from seed in the spring 1 ; and they will produce 

 their fragrant little flowers in autumn. 

 Sweet's Fl. Gar. 6. 



