Question

Cacsuta is a ______ parasite plant.

Answer 1

Like animal parasites living inside the host body that use the nutrients from the host body in the same way plants also have parasites called parasitic plants. They are attached either to the root or to the stem of the host plant and suck the nutrients from the host plant for survival and development.

Complete Answer:
The parasitic plants are heterotrophic which means it depends on the other plants for their survival. They get water and nutrients from the host plants. They have the feature of siphoning the resources from other plants because of the presence of modified roots termed as haustoria that penetrate inside the vascular system of the host plant.
There are many different types of parasitic plants found, they are classified depending on certain criteria like; whether the life cycle of the parasitic plants is completed solely depending on the host plant, this type of parasite is considered as obligate parasite. If the parasitic plants have the ability to survive independently of a host then it is considered a facultative parasite.
The next criteria are, the type of attachment the parasitic plant has with the host plant. If it is attached to the root of the host it is considered as the root parasite and if it is attached to the stem it is considered as the stem parasite.
The third criteria for the classification of parasitic plants are their ability to produce their own chlorophyll. If the parasitic plant produces its own chlorophyll then it is considered as hemiparasitic and if no chlorophyll is produced then it is considered as the holoparasitic.

Now, the Cuscuta or the Dodder plants are the obligate or total stem parasite as it does not have chlorophyll and has no connection with the soil after the germination process. Therefore, it depends fully on the host for the food, minerals, and nutrient supply. This plant pierces the stem of the host plant and sucks the nutrients from the host plant.

Note: The red rattle or Odontites vernus is also a type of obligate hemiparasitic or total stem parasite. The beech drops or the Epifagus virginiana is a root holoparasite found in American beech.