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Dodder


Dodder
Photo Information
Copyright: John Denk (jpdenk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 480 W: 5 N: 783] (2061)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-22
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 150mm F2.8 APO Macro DG HSM
Exposure: f/8, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Wildflowers and plants of the Chicago region [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-22 17:19
Viewed: 397
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dodder, Cuscuta genus, is a plant in the Cuscutaceae family. Found around the world in temperate and tropical climes, there are quite a few species, and they're fairly hard to ID to species, requiring a good, close look at the tiny flowers and fruit.

It has a host of old common names in English: Devil's Guts, Devil's Hair, Devil's Ringlet, Goldthread, Hailweed, Hairweed, Hellbine, Love Vine, Pull-down, Strangleweed, and Witch's Hair. Around here, it's just called Dodder.

This is a parasitic plant. It sprouts from a seed in the soil like normal plants, but as soon as it contacts a host plant, it winds around it and sinks root-like structures called haustoria into the host, tapping into its vascular system, and sucks away its water and nutrients.

This photo was made at the Bartel Grassland, where Dodder occurs fairly commonly in wetter areas, sometimes growing so thickly that it makes walking very difficult. The masses of orange-to-yellow vines are amazingly tough when occurring in large colonies.

I used my Sigma 150mm macro lens on my D70 body, all on a monopod for stability. I think this may be the first time for a photo of a Dodder on TN.

Kingdom- Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom- Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision- Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division- Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class- Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass- Asteridae
Order- Solanales
Family- Cuscutaceae – Dodder family
Genus- Cuscuta L. – dodder
boreocypriensis, tuslaw, Pitoncle has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tuslaw: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-24 14:09
To foozi: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-24 14:07
To boreocypriensis: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-24 14:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi and Good Morning MF John,
Another amazingly beautiful macro and 1st on TN! Congratulations! Nice to learn something different.You captured this parasitic plant with excellently managed camera settings as usual. Great POV/DOF, neat details and delightful compositon MF!
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9083)
  • [2009-08-23 0:51]
  • [+]

Hi John,
a very lovely and intricating view of this unique flowers. Very special and exciting.
very sharp and clear.

Regards,
Foozi

Hello John,
A super image of a plant that I have never knowingly seen before. The detail is sharp as a tac and the colors are gorgeous.
You seem to always be coming up with some unusual plant that is very unique, and this is no exception. Thanks for the great photo and very informative notes!! I'll keep my eyes open for this one in the future.
Ron
PS. If you don't mind I'll be sending you a few photos tonight after church for a positive ID.

Bonjour John,
Très belle et originale publication finement détaillée et délicatement colorée ; merci pour le partage.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

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