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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. indecora Choisy


Inflorescence spike- or panicle-like; pedicels 0–4.4 mm
Flower 3–5 mm; calyx 1–2 mm, lobes 5, not overlapped, ± 1/2 corolla tube, acute; corolla generally persistent, 3–4.5 mm, shallowly bell-shaped, tube generally shorter than wide, lobes 5, < tube, triangular, erect, tips incurved, appendages 1.5–2.5 mm, divisions many, finger-like; ovary 2–3 mm, ovoid-spheric, top with thickening, styles 3–4 mm
Fruit sometimes gland-dot-lined; top as ovary
Ecology: Common. On herbs, often in moist fields, roadsides
Elevation: probably < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Great Central Valley, Desert
Distribution outside California: to c&se US, Mexico; also Caribbean, S.America

Native

var. neuropetala (Engelm.) Hitchc.


Inflorescence: pedicel and calyx ± papillate
Ecology: Common. Habitats of sp.
Bioregional distribution: Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Central Valley, Desert
Flowering time: Jul–Oct

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bioregional map for CUSCUTA%20indecora%20var.%20neuropetala being generated
 


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