International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
@parasiticplants.bsky.social
Welcome to the account of the International Parasitic Plant Society (IPPS)! Follow us for updates on the latest research, the diversity, and the impact on agriculture of these fascinating organisms!
For more, visit or join https://www.parasiticplants.org
For more, visit or join https://www.parasiticplants.org
…beautiful plant – a sister species, Castilleja miniata, used to be on the cover of the famous Taiz-Zeiger textbook for Plant Physiology
The North American Paintbrush Plant Castilleja coccinea is a hemi-parastic biennial. It does not require a host plant for it's lifecycle. However, it does greatly benefit by being able to steal nutrients from nearby hosts. In some areas of the country, there is also a yellow phenotype.
January 23, 2026 at 8:23 AM
…beautiful plant – a sister species, Castilleja miniata, used to be on the cover of the famous Taiz-Zeiger textbook for Plant Physiology
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
The parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum suppresses host immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.20.700512v1
January 22, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum suppresses host immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.20.700512v1
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
A mistletoe plant
Here is something you don't see very often, a real mistletoe plant (Viscum album). It is a parasitic shrub that usually grows on both conifers and broadleaf trees. In this case, the specimen grew on a broadleaf tree.
Here is something you don't see very often, a real mistletoe plant (Viscum album). It is a parasitic shrub that usually grows on both conifers and broadleaf trees. In this case, the specimen grew on a broadleaf tree.
January 15, 2026 at 1:19 PM
A mistletoe plant
Here is something you don't see very often, a real mistletoe plant (Viscum album). It is a parasitic shrub that usually grows on both conifers and broadleaf trees. In this case, the specimen grew on a broadleaf tree.
Here is something you don't see very often, a real mistletoe plant (Viscum album). It is a parasitic shrub that usually grows on both conifers and broadleaf trees. In this case, the specimen grew on a broadleaf tree.
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
Botanists track where a plant thief hides
🌱 Now in @botany.one 🌿
botany.fyi/tb947t
Full paper: doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
🌱 Now in @botany.one 🌿
botany.fyi/tb947t
Full paper: doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
December 23, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Botanists track where a plant thief hides
🌱 Now in @botany.one 🌿
botany.fyi/tb947t
Full paper: doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
🌱 Now in @botany.one 🌿
botany.fyi/tb947t
Full paper: doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
Uncovering how parasitic plants avoid attacking themselves to improve crop resistance
Researchers uncovered how glucosylation of lignin-derived signals enables parasitic plants to avoid attacking themselves and related plants
buff.ly/E02e14U via NAIST #PlantScience
Researchers uncovered how glucosylation of lignin-derived signals enables parasitic plants to avoid attacking themselves and related plants
buff.ly/E02e14U via NAIST #PlantScience
January 19, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Uncovering how parasitic plants avoid attacking themselves to improve crop resistance
Researchers uncovered how glucosylation of lignin-derived signals enables parasitic plants to avoid attacking themselves and related plants
buff.ly/E02e14U via NAIST #PlantScience
Researchers uncovered how glucosylation of lignin-derived signals enables parasitic plants to avoid attacking themselves and related plants
buff.ly/E02e14U via NAIST #PlantScience
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
The North American Paintbrush Plant Castilleja coccinea is a hemi-parastic biennial. It does not require a host plant for it's lifecycle. However, it does greatly benefit by being able to steal nutrients from nearby hosts. In some areas of the country, there is also a yellow phenotype.
January 19, 2026 at 7:32 PM
The North American Paintbrush Plant Castilleja coccinea is a hemi-parastic biennial. It does not require a host plant for it's lifecycle. However, it does greatly benefit by being able to steal nutrients from nearby hosts. In some areas of the country, there is also a yellow phenotype.
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
Come visit us in Western Australia Scott - aside from the Proteaceae there are some other pretty amazing plants to see, including the fabulous Nuytsia floribunda ( a parasitic plant) and Eucalyptus macrocarpa ( flowering now)
January 21, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Come visit us in Western Australia Scott - aside from the Proteaceae there are some other pretty amazing plants to see, including the fabulous Nuytsia floribunda ( a parasitic plant) and Eucalyptus macrocarpa ( flowering now)
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
Desert broomrape (Aphyllon cooperi) flowering in Coyote Canyon. Broomrape is a parasitic plant growing attached to the roots of other plants taking its nutrients from a host plant nearby. It lacks leaves and chlorophyll (Photo: Sicco Rood).
January 12, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Desert broomrape (Aphyllon cooperi) flowering in Coyote Canyon. Broomrape is a parasitic plant growing attached to the roots of other plants taking its nutrients from a host plant nearby. It lacks leaves and chlorophyll (Photo: Sicco Rood).
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
The children will Look at Sand Food
January 20, 2026 at 2:07 PM
The children will Look at Sand Food
...a close call for the other plant.
A Parasitic Plant Is Looking for a New Host…
A parasitic plant (Cuscuta) loses its original host and probes a nearby plant using chemical cues.
It never attaches — even after deploying massive new growth.
#platbehaviour #parasiticplant #timelapseplants
#plantscience
#cuscuta
#plantintelligence
A parasitic plant (Cuscuta) loses its original host and probes a nearby plant using chemical cues.
It never attaches — even after deploying massive new growth.
#platbehaviour #parasiticplant #timelapseplants
#plantscience
#cuscuta
#plantintelligence
January 7, 2026 at 3:13 PM
...a close call for the other plant.
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
“Shiny Striped Eyebright, Semi-Parasite”
Euphrasia striata, commonly known as ‘shiny striped eyebright’ is an endemic Tasmanian species. It is semi-parasitic, forming a non-specific relationship by plugging into the root systems of the surrounding host during seedling establishment. 🧵
Euphrasia striata, commonly known as ‘shiny striped eyebright’ is an endemic Tasmanian species. It is semi-parasitic, forming a non-specific relationship by plugging into the root systems of the surrounding host during seedling establishment. 🧵
December 29, 2025 at 6:57 AM
“Shiny Striped Eyebright, Semi-Parasite”
Euphrasia striata, commonly known as ‘shiny striped eyebright’ is an endemic Tasmanian species. It is semi-parasitic, forming a non-specific relationship by plugging into the root systems of the surrounding host during seedling establishment. 🧵
Euphrasia striata, commonly known as ‘shiny striped eyebright’ is an endemic Tasmanian species. It is semi-parasitic, forming a non-specific relationship by plugging into the root systems of the surrounding host during seedling establishment. 🧵
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
This Bizarre Parasitic ‘Mushroom’ Plant Quit Photosynthesis – And It’s Thriving : ScienceAlert
https://www.europesays.com/uk/661868/
A weird-looking parasitic plant has discarded all its photosynthesis machinery – and nevertheless has found a way to…
https://www.europesays.com/uk/661868/
A weird-looking parasitic plant has discarded all its photosynthesis machinery – and nevertheless has found a way to…
This Bizarre Parasitic 'Mushroom' Plant Quit Photosynthesis – And It's Thriving : ScienceAlert - United Kingdom
A weird-looking parasitic plant has discarded all its photosynthesis machinery – and nevertheless has found a way to thrive.
www.europesays.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:40 AM
This Bizarre Parasitic ‘Mushroom’ Plant Quit Photosynthesis – And It’s Thriving : ScienceAlert
https://www.europesays.com/uk/661868/
A weird-looking parasitic plant has discarded all its photosynthesis machinery – and nevertheless has found a way to…
https://www.europesays.com/uk/661868/
A weird-looking parasitic plant has discarded all its photosynthesis machinery – and nevertheless has found a way to…
Reposted by International Parasitic Plant Society - IPPS
A Rare Parasitic Plant Lives Underground Without Photosynthesis and Reproduces Asexually
Some plants bend the rules of plant life so far that they barely resemble plants at all. Balanophora...
https://s.faithcollapsing.com/6uix2#planet-earth
Some plants bend the rules of plant life so far that they barely resemble plants at all. Balanophora...
https://s.faithcollapsing.com/6uix2#planet-earth
December 31, 2025 at 1:00 AM
A Rare Parasitic Plant Lives Underground Without Photosynthesis and Reproduces Asexually
Some plants bend the rules of plant life so far that they barely resemble plants at all. Balanophora...
https://s.faithcollapsing.com/6uix2#planet-earth
Some plants bend the rules of plant life so far that they barely resemble plants at all. Balanophora...
https://s.faithcollapsing.com/6uix2#planet-earth
New Post: IPPS Plant Photo Library www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/ipps...
December 31, 2025 at 3:01 PM
New Post: IPPS Plant Photo Library www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/ipps...
Updated Post: Update: 18th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, 31 May – 5 June 2026, São Sebastião, Brazil. www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/upda...
December 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Updated Post: Update: 18th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, 31 May – 5 June 2026, São Sebastião, Brazil. www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/upda...
New Post: Parasitic plants avoid self-recognition through glucosylation of haustorium-inducing factors www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/para...
December 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
New Post: Parasitic plants avoid self-recognition through glucosylation of haustorium-inducing factors www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/para...
New Post: The IPPS wishes you a happy and successful 2026! www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/the-...
December 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
New Post: The IPPS wishes you a happy and successful 2026! www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/the-...
New Post: Evergreen to ever-changing: How mountain forests rely on mistletoes for survival www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/ever...
December 22, 2025 at 11:58 AM
New Post: Evergreen to ever-changing: How mountain forests rely on mistletoes for survival www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/ever...
New Post: 4th International Congress on Strigolactones (ICS2026) Paris www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/4th-...
December 12, 2025 at 5:26 AM
New Post: 4th International Congress on Strigolactones (ICS2026) Paris www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/4th-...
New Post: Update: 18th World Congress on Parasitic Plants – São Sebastião, Brazil (new dates and venue) www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/upda...
December 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
New Post: Update: 18th World Congress on Parasitic Plants – São Sebastião, Brazil (new dates and venue) www.parasiticplants.org/2025/12/upda...
New Post: Our online survey on parasitic weeds in Europe is soon closing www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/our-...
November 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
New Post: Our online survey on parasitic weeds in Europe is soon closing www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/our-...
New Post: December IPPS Seminars by Natalia Pabón Mora, Huiting Zhang and Ahmed Choukri www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/dece...
November 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
New Post: December IPPS Seminars by Natalia Pabón Mora, Huiting Zhang and Ahmed Choukri www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/dece...
New Post: Rain brings surprising shifts for desert mistletoes and their animal visitors www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/rain...
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
New Post: Rain brings surprising shifts for desert mistletoes and their animal visitors www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/rain...
"Rain brings surprising shifts for desert mistletoes and their animal visitors" by Francisco E. Fonturbel
Preview: In the dry landscapes of north-central Chile, a large rainfall unexpectedly changed the rules of survival for two local…
Source: https://www.parasiticplants.org/b/TJX
#
parasiticplants
Preview: In the dry landscapes of north-central Chile, a large rainfall unexpectedly changed the rules of survival for two local…
Source: https://www.parasiticplants.org/b/TJX
#
parasiticplants
November 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"Rain brings surprising shifts for desert mistletoes and their animal visitors" by Francisco E. Fonturbel
Preview: In the dry landscapes of north-central Chile, a large rainfall unexpectedly changed the rules of survival for two local…
Source: https://www.parasiticplants.org/b/TJX
#
parasiticplants
Preview: In the dry landscapes of north-central Chile, a large rainfall unexpectedly changed the rules of survival for two local…
Source: https://www.parasiticplants.org/b/TJX
#
parasiticplants
Updated Post: First National Symposium on Parasitic Plants Successfully Concluded in Kunming, China www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/firs...
November 8, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Updated Post: First National Symposium on Parasitic Plants Successfully Concluded in Kunming, China www.parasiticplants.org/2025/11/firs...