What is ‘Cuscuta dodder’?

Native to North America, invasive cuscuta dodder is posing a hazard to the local ecology and migratory bird habitats in Tamil Nadu's Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. This rootless parasitic vine has invaded acres of trees in reserve forests and broken into the oldest bird sanctuary in India. It creates dense canopies before strangling and killing hosts; it is found on Barringtonia trees, which are essential for bird nesting. It is a major issue for oilseeds, pulses, and fodder crops in India. It is classified as a "declared noxious weed" in 25 countries worldwide. Hard-coated Cuscuta seeds have a 50-year shelf life in dry storage and a 10-year shelf life in the field.