382 



PHYSIOLOGY 



solving the wall by some enzyme (see digestion, p. 399), or it may send 

 into them short branches, called haustoria (fig. 651; see also figs. 1079, 



1080, Part III), through 

 -C which the food enters 



the parasite. A vascu- 

 lar parasite, the dod- 

 der, which twines exten- 

 sively over coarse herbs, 

 sends into its host short 

 branches, likewise called 

 haustoria (fig. 652), 

 whose vascular strands 

 come into the most inti- 

 mate contact with those 

 of the host. (See Part 

 III on parasitism.) 



Partial parasites. — 

 When such complete 

 contact has been estab- 



FlG. 652. — Section of stem penetrated by haustorium 

 (h) of dodder (Cuscuta). — From Part III. (For ex- 

 planation of letters, see fig. 1082.) 



lished, it is difficult to determine what or how much material migrates 

 from host to parasite. Colorless parasites, of course, must get all 

 their food from the host. Certain green parasites 

 undoubtedly could live by getting merely water and 

 its dissolved salts, for they can make food for them- 

 selves. Hence they are known as partial parasites. 

 But that they completely restrict themselves to such 

 food materials and do not admit any real food is 

 quite improbable, in view of the intimate union 

 between the two. 



Mutualism. — The support of the parasite by the 

 host may result in no considerable injury or even 

 weakening. Indeed, many cases have been described 

 in which the association suggested a partnership, 

 whence the term mutualism. From another point 

 of view the relation resembles that of master and 

 slave, whence the term helotism (see Part III). 

 The lichens (p. 78) furnish the classical example. 

 Yet even here the algae are somewhat restricted in development by 

 the constant drain upon them, though perhaps they can work at food 



Fig. 653. — Ecto- 

 trophic mycorhiza of 

 European beech (Fa- 

 gus sylvatica); h, hy- 

 phac. — After Frank. 



