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.
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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.
Review Questions
What are haustoria and what function do they serve in parasitic plants?
Differentiate between hemiparasitic and holoparasitic plants with one example of each.
How can parasitic plants affect agricultural productivity?
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.