CUSCUTACEAE

DODDER FAMILY

Tania Beliz

Annual, parasitic vine
Stem twining, ± thread-like, yellow-green to bright orange, generally glabrous
Leaves 0 or scale-like, ± 2 mm, generally triangular to lanceolate
Inflorescence: cyme or cluster (rarely flowers solitary), generally head- or spike-like, axillary, sometimes bracted
Flower bisexual, radial; calyx generally persistent, lobes generally 4–5, generally overlapped; corolla generally deciduous, < 6 mm, mostly white, tube generally appendaged opposite stamens, lobes 4–5; stamens 4–5, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, chambers 2(3), 2-ovuled, styles generally 2, stigma generally 1 per style, generally ± head-like
Fruit: capsule (circumscissile or irregularly dehiscent) or berry-like
Genera in family: 1 genus, ± 150 species: especially Am tropical; some crop pests
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated within Convolvulaceae [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531–553].

CUSCUTA

DODDER

Etymology: (Arabic: ancient name)

Native

C. cephalanthi Engelm.

Inflorescence head- or spike-like; pedicels 0–1.2 mm
Flower 3–4 mm; perianth parts obtuse, gland-dotted, not papillate; calyx appressed, lobes 3–5, generally free, 1–2 mm, unequal, margins irregular; corolla sometimes persistent, 2–4 mm, funnel-shaped, tube longer than wide, lobes 3–4, spreading to erect, 0.6–1.3 mm, unequal, appendages 1.3–2 mm, divisions few, scattered, finger-like; filaments 0.2–0.6 mm, anthers 0.4–0.7 mm; ovary 0.9–2 mm, ± spheric to ovoid, top depressed or not, thickened or not
Fruit sometimes asymmetric; top as ovary
Chromosomes: 2n=60
Ecology: Uncommon. On herbs, near streams, rivers, lakes
Elevation: probably < 3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Warner Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Washington, e US, Mexico