ClimateSeptember 6, 2026
lousewort
LOWS-wurt
Definition
A type of low-growing parasitic flowering plant that derives nutrients by attaching its roots to the roots of neighboring plants.
Etymology
The name is derived from the Middle English 'lous' (louse) and 'wort' (a plant). It historically carried this name because of the folk belief that livestock grazing on these plants would become infested with lice.
In the news
In this article, the Arctic lousewort is studied for its complex relationship with neighboring plants, where it acts as a 'vampire' by siphoning nutrients while simultaneously attracting pollinators that benefit the entire plant community.
A lush knee-high jungle grows in the Arctic, but warming is changing Earth's mini-greenhouse
Read the full article ↗yoursun.com