A parasitic pest has worked its way onto the streets of Lompoc, according to officials at the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.
A local resident first reported the appearance of Japanese dodder, a large noxious weed, in the west portion of the city, south of Central Avenue. Lab results from the California Department of Agriculture confirmed it as Cuscuta japonica, or Japanese dodder. This is the first official detection of the weed in Santa Barbara County.
According to a statement from the Ag Commissioner’s office, Japanese dodder is an aggressive, non-native parasitic plant that kills its host plants by robbing them of food and water.
“It has a very wide host range that could be detrimental to agriculture, to parks, and even to home gardens,” agricultural program specialist David Chang said.
Japanese dodder is known to feed off of stone fruits; citrus, oak, and willow trees; commercial crops; and ornamental and wild plants. It can spread diseases like tristeza, citrus greening, and other bacteria.
The plant is usually yellow or orange and looks like tangled clumps of spaghetti.
Chang said part of what makes Japanese dodder dangerous is how easily it spreads.
“It’s usually spread through plant growth or pieces spread by birds using them to make their nests,” he said.
It can also be spread through intentional planting or improper disposal through composting.
“Japanese dodder has cultural significance in the Hmong culture. It’s used as a medicinal herb and it’s believed to have fertility properties,” Chang said.
Nonetheless, the Ag Commissioner’s office wants people to know that the plant is detrimental to native and commercial plants. Residents are encouraged to report other infestations to the county, but are asked not to disturb the plant.
Chang said Japanese dodder is in the same family as some native dodders, commonly referred to as witch’s or angel’s hair, but those plants don’t have the same negative impact. The different kinds of dodder can be distinguished by their stems—Japanese dodder typically has a much thicker stem.
“We’ve already had people reporting native dodder, but that’s OK because we need to know what people are seeing,” he said.
Reports of Japanese dodder can be called into the office at 681-5600 or e-mailed to abcwma@agcommissioner.com.
For more information, visit countyofsb.org/agcomm/wma.aspx?id=29344.
This article appears in Sep 1-8, 2011.
