While browsing the website , I came across an interesting article about dodder and a reference about how they key on odors or chemical signals of some plants to find a host. Here is a detailed entry about it in the . This species is considered uncommon in 91ÖÆƬ³§ and there are four other species that are endangered and threatened in the state. To find out more about two of them, you can go to the NY Natural Heritage Program .
The flowers of Cuscuta gronovii, a common species of dodder, in Schenectady. Photo Steve Young