Joann Merritt's Essays

Dodder
February, 2000

Dodder (Cuscuta sp.), another member of the Morning Glory family, comes up from a seed and develops very shallow roots. As the plant’s leafless stems grow they twist and twine sinking their “teeth” into the first plant they can reach. Dodder’s own root system then cuts it’s apron strings to Mother Earth, and becomes a neighborhood parasite mooching it’s needed nutrients and support from next door plants.

The word dodder means weak and trembling which accurately describes the plant since it needs a support system in order to survive, but while Dodder may appear “doddery” its host plants probably think otherwise. Dodder drapes and piles on its hostage plants while literally sucking the life out of them. Weak, trembling, doddery? The host plants think not! The twining slender vines are yellowish or orange instead of green due to alack of chloryphyll and when seen along the roadsides it resembles tangles of discarded fishing line. Later in the summer tiny white flowers bloom in profusion and when mature they produce seeds for the next generation of Dodder.

There is a good plant/bad plant relationship with Dodder as evidenced by its common names of Love Vine and Angel Hair and contrariwise Strangleweed and Devil’s Shoelaces. Perhaps the name one uses corresponds to ones own mood as well as the plant’s appearance and growth habit.

According to Southern Lore this plant will tell you whether your sweetheart loves you or not. First you must take a length of the vine, twirl it around your head three times while calling out the name of your beloved, throw it behind you and without looking back walk away from the spot. Return in three days and if the piece of Dodder has shriveled or dies that’s bad news, but if it has attached itself to a host plant and is growing then - Yes! - your beloved also loves you!