Cuscuta campestris

Golden Dodder
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Cuscuta
Species: C. campestris
Binomial name
Cuscuta campestris
Yuncker

Cuscuta campestris, with the common name large-seeded alfalfa dodder and prairie dodder, is a parasitic plant which belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. It was formerly classified in the family Cuscutaceae.

It is native to central North America. It is a parasite of a wide range of herbaceous plants.

It is a pest of lucerne and other legumes. It has become a widespread weed in many countries. It is known as 'golden dodder' in Australia.

It has been confused in some recent literature with Cuscuta pentagona Engelmann, but the differences between the two species are clear.[1]

References

  1. Costea, M., Nesom, G.L. & Stefanovic, S. (2006) Taxonomy of the Cuscuta pentagona complex (Convolvulaceae) in North America. Sida 22(1): 151-175.

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