Deadly hug

Parasitic plants such as mistletoe extract nutrients and water from their host plants. Learn how they embrace their host and what dangers this poses to the host but also to the parasitic plants.

Irchel | Gallery

It’s not just us humans who sometimes feel taken advantage of by others – many plants feel the same way. For example, when a parasitic neighbour plant attaches itself to them and steals nutrients and water, often until they die and with devastating consequences for agricultural yields. But this way of life is not without risk for the parasite either, as it is heavily dependent on its host. And to be successful as a parasite at all, it has to develop special skills.

At our stand you can discover the tools parasitic plants use to tap into their host plants – will a look under the microscope reveal how these special organs work? Also learn what makes parasites dependent on their hosts and how you can recognise parasitic plants. Maybe you’ll have one at home for Christmas?

A) Dodder (Cuscuta), which forms a web on its host plants. B) Ghost pipe Monotropa uniflora, which feeds on the roots of its host and grows without chlorophyll. C) Giant Rafflesia, which has the largest flower in the world. The rest of the plant grows completely inside the host.

Left image: Michael Becker, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Right image: Johnathan J. Dalzell, Cheating Beats Competing, For Parasitic Cuscuta Plants , via Frontiers

Right picture: Microscopic cross-section of a Cuscuta parasite (P) invading a host plant (H). The parasite forms a special invasive organ (haustorium) with which it drills a hole into the stem of the host and steals resources.