Close-up photo of parasitic dodder plant attacking a blooming sprig of indigo bush. The indigo bush has a green stem curled like a shepherd's crook and sports an array of small, deep purple flowers. The dodder is colored orange and looks like spaghetti or fishing line. The dodder splays chaotically across the scene and can be seen curling in tight spirals around the indigo bush stem. The photos background is blurry with soft focus, but it is easily perceived that the twining dodder is also spread through the background.
"It has long been known that dodders are “vampire-like” parasitic plants. Like a nightmare from an alien horror film, the dodder wraps itself around its host. It then uses a long probe to literally tap into its victim and drain their fluids." 1/3
#botany #dodder #wildflowers #desertflora