Parasitic plants are defined as vascular plants which have developed specialized organs that penetrate the tissues of other vascular plants (hosts).They establish connections to the vascular tissue of the host in order for the parasite to absorb the host's nutrients.
- Despite their wide diversity, parasitic plants, like normal plants, have a basic body structure. Like other plants, they have a shoot system and a root system, but what sets parasitic plants apart is that the root meristem can develop a whole new organ: the haustorium.