Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A parasitic plant is a type of plant that derives some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant. These plants typically attach themselves to the host plant using specialized structures called haustoria.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Parasitic plants can be either hemiparasites, which perform photosynthesis and only partially rely on the host, or holoparasites, which completely depend on the host for nutrition.
Common examples of parasitic plants include mistletoe (a hemiparasite) and dodder (a holoparasite).
Parasitic plants can negatively impact agriculture by reducing crop yields and spreading diseases.
Haustoria are specialized organs in parasitic plants that penetrate the host plant's tissues to access water and nutrients.
Parasitic plants have evolved various strategies to locate and attach to their hosts, such as detecting chemical signals emitted by potential host plants.
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Related terms
Mycorrhizae: Symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots that enhance nutrient uptake.
Epiphyte: A plant that grows on another plant but does not derive nutrients from it, relying instead on rain and air.
Nitrogen Fixation: The process through which certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants.