Report on Neilgherry Loranthaceous Parasitical Plants Destructive to Exotic Forest and Fruit Trees

A is the host to which the parasite has applied its sucker-like root B the sucker and C the albumen of the seed enclosing the cotyledons and growing point of the parasite. [...] The next stage in the process is the protrusion of the radicle from the fruit to which the " embryo remains' attached until the parasite has gained a firm lodgment on the tree." The embryo now becomes curved the elongating radicle seeking the nearest point of the tree. [...] The final stage of the process by which the parasite secures a permnent attachment to the host commences by the cushion destroying the cuticle beneath it and reaching the outer cellular layer of the bark. [...] is deeply imbedded in the wood of the acacia a and in due course the portion of the branch beyond the point of attachment will die and then the parasite will settle itself comfortably on the stump. [...] By the removal of the crude sap bringing up the raw nutritive materials from the soil the host is subjected to a species of starvation which gradually lowers its vital energy ; but the loss of the descending sap containing all the formative materials proves infinitely more prejudicial as the tree is thus bereft of the pabulum which enables it to live and grow.