Dodder parasitic plant. Timelapse footage of a tendril of a seedling of a dodder (Cuscuta sp.) plant coiling around and attaching to a host plant. This vine-like climbing parasitic plant grows around the stems of other plants, as it is unable to survive without a host due to having no roots and no chlorophyll. Nutrients and water are obtained through root-like structures called haustoria, which insert themselves into the tissues of the host plant's vascular system. The dodder can grow and attach itself to multiple plants. Once established, the dodder produces leaves and flowers and grows vigorously. Many countries prohibit importation of dodder seed, with pest control measures used to destroy the plant to prevent infestations.