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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. salina Engelm.


Inflorescence spike-like; pedicels 0–2.5 mm
Flower 2–4.5 mm; perianth parts ± acute, gland-dotted; calyx 1.3–2.7 mm, lobes 5, erect to spreading, triangular-lanceolate; corolla 3–5 mm, bell-shaped, tube longer than wide, lobes 5, erect to spreading, lanceolate, appendages 1.2–1.5 mm, divisions many, knob-like; filaments 0.1–0.7 mm, anthers 0.4–0.7 mm; ovary 1–3 mm, gland-dotted, thickening at top more conspicuous in fruit, styles 0.4–1 mm
Ecology: Common. On herbs in salty marshes, flats, ponds; generally <
Elevation: generally < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, Great Central Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Utah, Arizona, Baja California

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bioregional map for CUSCUTA%20salina being generated
 


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