Dodder parasitic plant. Polarised light micrograph of a section through a host plant parasitised by a dodder (Cuscuta sp.). This vine-like parasitic p

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Dodder parasitic plant. Polarised light micrograph of a section through a host plant parasitised by a dodder (Cuscuta sp.). This vine-like parasitic plant grows around the stems of gorse and heather, as it is unable to survive without a host due to having no roots. Nutrients and water are obtained through root-like structures called haustoria (red and green fibres, left), which tap into the tissues of the host plant's vascular system (green and red clusters, right). Magnification: x100 when printed 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 5616px × 3744px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomical, anatomy, attach, attached, attaching, biological, biology, botanical, botany, cell, cuscuta, dodder, flora, haustoria, host, light, micrograph, microscope, nature, parasite, parasitic, parasitism, parasitoid, parasitology, plant, plants, polarised, sp., system, tissue, vascular, vessels, vine