Family: Convolvulaceae Dodder Cuscuta epithymum Flowering: June-October. Parasitic annual climber. Native No green chlorophyll is produced so it is totally parasitic on heather, gorse, birds-foot-trefoil and clovers. Can be locally common in southern England, less frequent to rare elsewhere. RDB-Vulnerable The plant forms a mass of twining red stems with the leaves reduced to tiny scales. Very small pinkish-white flowers are produced in dense clusters, 5-petalled with projecting stamens.

Dodder, Cuscuta epithymum
Studland, Dorset. September 2012