180 PARASITIC PLANTS. 



of the host-plant, often through a thick rind, and 

 penetrates as far even as the woody tissue. Once 

 having entered the host-plant, the cells, until now 

 united in a bundle, isolate themselves, move apart, 

 force themselves singly into the cells of the host, 

 and become now active absorbing cells. They 

 draw out the organic substances of the foster-plant 

 and bring them by the shortest road to the fibres, 

 which, in the meantime, have developed in the 

 stem of the Cuscuta, and are grouped in a narrow 

 circle there. When such a connection is finally 

 established, between the parasite and the host- 

 plant, the lower portion of the parasite dies away. 

 The club-shaped end has already disappeared, and 

 the Cuscuta is now no longer connected with the 

 earth in which it has germinated, but is rooted 

 only to the host-plant, by means of the suckers." 



Another kind of parasite which is without green 

 coloring matter, and therefore unable to digest its 

 own food, is Beech-drops (Epiphegus Virginiana). 

 This is an example of a root-parasite. It belongs 

 to a family (Orobancliacece) consisting of brownish 

 or yellowish plants, with scales instead of leaves, 

 which are all root-parasites. The Epiphegus lives 



1 This account of the germination of Dodder is quoted from "Pflan- 

 zenleben," p. 159. 



