plant parasite

A plant parasite is an organism that lives on or in a plant and derives nutrients from it, typically to the host's detriment.

These include fungi, bacteria, insects, and even other plants like mistletoe or dodder that attach to host plants and extract water and nutrients.

The aphids were acting as plant parasites, weakening the rose bushes.

Some plant parasites kill their hosts outright while others maintain a long-term relationship that merely stunts growth.