Common name: Giant Dodder • Hindi: अमर बेल Amar bel , आकाश बेल Akashbel • Manipuri: Uri sanamacha • Oriya: Kolanirmuli • Tamil: Kodiyagundal • Bengali: Swarna lata • Telugu: Sitamma pogunalu • Marathi: निर्मली Nirmali • Assamese: Amarlati • Malayalam: Akasavalli
Botanical name: Cuscuta reflexa Family: Cuscutaceae (dodder family)
Amar bel (meaning, immortal vine) is an unusual parasitic vine related to
the Morning glory family. It grows in a prolific manner over host
plants ( or other support ) with inter-twined stems, giving it a common
name of Devils Hair. The plant is leafless and rootless. Initially the starter
plant would have
had some roots. Within a few days of germination, the plant, which is
touch sensitive, finds a host or dies. After establishing itself on a
host body, it draws nutrition from the host as a stem parasite and the
roots wither away. The twining stem develops Haustoria which are root
like and penetrate the host stem to draw water and nourishment. The
flowers are small , white, having a perfect bell shape and a fleshy
calyx, attached directly to the stem nodes.
Although a few species are reported to have medicinal use, the rampant
Dodder plant is a voracious and destructive vine which usually will
overgrow and kill the host. It also is a cause of transmission of
different virus diseases such as Citrus mosaic and Purple Blotch to field
crops and trees. Its seeds can remain dormant for five years and control
of Dodder is an important issue for crops and forests.
Plant lovers and conservationists enjoying this site should note that in
Current Science magazine* it has been identified as an emerging
threat to the plant diversity in the Valley of Flowers. While this flower
appears like a perfect lustrous bell, the experts advise that wherever
an unwanted Dodder vine is growing, all its stem pieces should be
removed (preferably before seeding) and burnt!
*Current Science, Vol. 84, No. 10, 25 May 2003
| Photographed in Valley of Flowers, Uttaranchal. |
Identification credit: Akhila Sinha
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