THE CLOVER DODDER 



By S. L Anthon. 



TN this southeastern section of the State of Washington we 

 have immense green sweeps of hillside made up of fields 

 of clover and alfalfa. Occasionally a keen eye may see in the 

 midst of the clear green a small yellowish patch, seemingly 

 made up of fine threads lying on top of the green. This is the 

 beginning of a dodder plant. Day by day, the yellow stain 

 spreads until at last the green itself seems to shrivel up. The 

 dodder (Cuscuta epithymwn) has taken possession of the field 

 and it means unceasing labor to drive it out of its easily won 

 territory. Formerly, much dodder seed was sold 'with clover 

 and alfalfa seed, but now that the state colleges willingly test 

 these seeds but little of the plant escapes attention. Dodder 

 seed closely resembles clover seed, differing in that it is a trifle 

 smaller and is angled where the clover seed is round. 



The life history of the dodder is most interesting. After 

 the seed falls to the ground it lies dormant for the usual length 

 of time and then sprouts into a slender stem with small leaves 

 — an independent plant ! The stem seems almost a purposely 

 conscious organ. It soon elongates, twisting and turning until 

 it comes in contact with a plant suitable for a host when it 

 begins to coil about it, sinking its fang-like haustoria through 

 the bark in order to absorb nourishment from its unhappy 

 victim. Having no further use for root and leaves these 

 shrivel up and die, a few leaves being left in the form of tiny 

 alternate scales on the winding threads. Instead of leading 

 an independent existence the plant has become a total parasite, 



