dodder

Cuscuta californica Hook. & Arn., chaparral dodder or just dodder, is a parasitic plant a part of the Morning-glory Family. This plant is incredibly slender with yellow to orange stems that lack chlorophyll and twine its way around a host plant. It has little suckers all over it, that latches to its host and its leaves are brought to a minute state as to not slow down the plant. In the months between May and August little white, waxy five parted flowers sprout on small stalks in clusters that become spike-like.
They can be found south and north ranges in the coast, south Sierra of California to all western states except New Mexico and Montana, in chaparral, grasslands, roadsides, and yellow pine forests.

Chaparral Dodder
Infusions of the plant was used as a cure for black widow bites(be sure to do more research on the fusion before using), the juice from the chewed stem and/or powder made from the plant was snuffed up the nose in order to stop nosebleeds. The plant was eaten whole to be used as a contraceptive.
WARNING: Parasitic plants can pick up toxins from the plant its using as a host, so research the plant it is hooked up to and the parasitic plant as well. .