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. pentagona Engelm.

Inflorescence: pedicels 0.8–1 mm
Flower: calyx ± 1–2 mm, lobes 4–5, 0.6–1.3 mm, ovate to round, gland-dotted; corolla ± 2–3 mm, shallowly bell-shaped, tube generally wider than long, lobes 4–5, erect, 0.9–1.3 mm, tips incurved to reflexed, acute, often papillate outside, appendages ± 1–2 mm, curved over ovary, divisions few–many, finger-like; filaments 0.3–0.8 mm, anthers 0.3–0.6 mm; ovary 1–1.6 mm, ± spheric, unthickened, top depressed, styles 0.4–0.5 mm
Fruit 1–3.6 mm, ± spheric; top as ovary
Ecology: Common. On herbs and shrubs on roadsides
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Central Valley, Central Coast, South Coast
Distribution outside California: to se US, Caribbean, n Mexico
Synonyms: C. campestris Yuncker