Golden dodder

Golden dodder is a leafless, parasitic plant that can grow up to 5 metres in 2 months, and whose stems twine around its host plant.

Description

• Thin, thread-like stems are bright yellow, resembling spaghetti.

• It has no roots and leaves are like scales on the stems.

• The white or cream bell-shaped flowers have 3-5 petals and form in clusters.

• Fruits are globular capsules 3-4mm in diameter containing up to 4 seeds.

• Seeds are brown, yellow or grey and slightly pear-shaped.

• Seeds are dispersed by water or animals and fragments by water, soil or vehicle movement.

• Habitats include grasslands, open woodlands, gardens, riparian zones, and wetlands.

What you need to know

Golden dodder sucks the nutrients out of its host plants, weakening and often killing them. It smothers neighbouring plants with a mass of golden tendrils and is highly toxic to livestock.

Management approach

Golden dodder is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest, including unwanted organisms, cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, or multiplied, communicated, released, or cause to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of golden dodder yourself. Report any sightings to us.