First thought is dodder (Cuscuta sp.), which is a parasitic plant. Link to the wikipedia site below -- note the last section, "Prevention and Treatment", time is of the essence to save the host plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dodder link

This post was edited by catspa on Sun, Jun 15, 14 at 17:07

ditto........ dodder

I agree that is dodder. I've just seen it first hand once, I found it in a clump of Echinacea/cone flower in a long perennial bed I shared with a neighbor between our homes. After ID, I hand picked every single thread of it and put it in the garbage, kept a very close eye on the area watching for recurrence (hands and knees) the rest of that season and again the following spring. It never returned.