What the heck is this?

[littleginsu]

And more importantly, is it going to eat me? My mom is sure it is a Triffid.

Note: I have no intentions on feeding this to anyone, just need identification so I know how best to eliminate it without killing my other plants.

 

[Tom]

Wow. Don't know that one. Are their alien seed pods incubating human clones in there too? That's crazy. Where are you?

It would be cool if its edible. It would be like spaghetti for tortoises. You could mash up some opuntia fruits and make a simulated marinara sauce to put on top!

 

[fluffypanda17]

From what I've been told (which is very little) that is a parasite that shows up sporadically (like from spores, we think) and it basically chokes out the plants it's on. It's not good. But that's all I know. Could be completely wrong

 

[littleginsu]

Southeast Arizona, but our monsoons have been crazy this year, I have tons of shrooms growing in my planters.. So I would not be surprised if this is a fungus or man-eating alien species!!

 

[CharlieD]

From what I've been told (which is very little) that is a parasite that shows up sporadically (like from spores, we think) and it basically chokes out the plants it's on. It's not good. But that's all I know. Could be completely wrong

It's true, this is called dodder and can take over a yard pretty quickly. No idea if it's safe for torts or not.

 

[littleginsu]

Thank you for the info, fluffy. I think it could be Cassytha, but that mostly grows in South America, Australia and Hawaii.. Not sure what the heck it would be doing in Arizona!!

 

[littleginsu]

It's true, this is called dodder and can take over a yard pretty quickly. No idea if it's safe for torts or not.

Thank you for the information!! I have no plans to feed it to anything!!

 

[littleginsu]

I believe a nice helping of weed killer is due.

 

[littleginsu]

Or, apparently, vinegar. Is there anything vinegar cannot fix/clean?!?

 

[CharlieD]

I believe a nice helping of weed killer is due.

It's worth a try, but i will advise that his stuff does not go away easily and the damage has been done to any plants it has wrapped around. Like a lot of ivy type stuff, torching is one of the more effective methods but I understand that is not always practical. Remove as much as you can and give it a shot with any remedies that work for you, but don't worry about saving anything it has overtaken.

 

[littleginsu]

I has mostly invaded other weeds. I do see any on my palo verde tree

 

[ascott]

You may need to clear area down to the earth...I would not apply any chemical if that is going to be dirt that will grow food for consumption....

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/167523/dodder

 

[Yvonne G]

Scroll down and read under "Management."

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7496.html