Question

parasitic plant   We have 2 weeping cherry blossom trees for 4 years and they seemed relatively healthy, but recently we have noticed a second type of plant sprouting up everywhere, along the roots the actual cherry tree, and we have also seen some branches that appeared out of the main trunk.  This second type of plant is dramatically different -- different stems, different size/color/shape of leaves.  Is there such a thing as a second species of plant trying to "take over" a host tree like that?  
Thank you for your time.

Answer
These are the leaves of the cherry. Leaves from sprouts look larger than the leaves on the branches. Water sprouts and suckers are two types of vigorous shoot growth generally considered undesirable. Water sprouts occur along branches, usually at pruning sites. Suckers grow from the trunk or roots. water sprouts - arise from latent buds, usually have large leaves, succulent, rapid growing. It is best to prune off these sprouts as they take away from the form of the tree and take a good deal of energy form the branches. I would prune these off back to the main trunk.