Family: Convolvulaceae
Author: Bab.
Bibliography: Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 13: 253 (1844)
Year: 1844
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Cuscuta
Vegetable: False
Observations: Macaronesia, Medit. to SW. Siberia and Indo-China, Arabian Pen., Eritrea to Zambia, N. America, Caribbean
Description
The Smooth-seed alfalfa dodder, scientifically known as Cuscuta approximata, is a species belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. This parasitic plant is characterized by its intricate lifestyle and wide distribution across various regions. It was first described in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History in 1844 by the botanist Babington.
Cuscuta approximata can be found across a broad geographic range, including Macaronesia, the Mediterranean region extending to Southwestern Siberia, Indo-China, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Its presence also spans from Eritrea down to Zambia, and it has been identified in North America and the Caribbean.
This species is notable for its smooth seeds, which differentiate it from other members of the Cuscuta genus. Like other dodders, Smooth-seed alfalfa dodder is a holoparasitic plant, meaning it relies entirely on a host plant to obtain water and nutrients, lacking chlorophyll and the ability to photosynthesize.
The plant’s adaptability to diverse climates and regions underscores its resilience and the importance of understanding its ecological impact. Due to its parasitic nature, it can affect agricultural productivity and biodiversity, making it a significant species for both agricultural and ecological studies.
Common Names
Eng: alfalfa dodder, smallseed alfalfa dodder, smooth-seed alfalfa dodder, smoothseed alfalfa dodder
Hun: arankafaj
Fra: cuscute proche
Swe: nätsnärja
En: Smooth-seed alfalfa dodder, Alfalfa dodder, Smallseed alfalfa dodder, Smoothseed alfalfa dodder
Ar: حمول (حَمول)
Fr: Cuscute proche, Cuscute
He: כשות הגליל
Hu: Arankafaj
It: Cuscuta a calice dorato
Sv: Nätsnärja
Synonyms
- Cuscuta planiflora var. approximata ((Bab.) Engelm.)
- Cuscuta planiflora subsp. approximata ((Bab.) H.Lindb.)
- Cuscuta epithymum subsp. approximata ((Bab.) Rouy)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Alabama (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Austria (native)
- Bahamas (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Florida (native)
- France (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Greece (native)
- Guinea (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Illinois (native)
- India (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Libya (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Sinai (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Windward Is. (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Botswana (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile North (introduced)
- Cyprus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- Fiji (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
- Lesotho (introduced)
- Line Is. (introduced)
- Madagascar (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Northern Territory (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Seychelles (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- Swaziland (introduced)
- Tuamotu (introduced)
- Uganda (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Antoine le Clercq (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 29, 2022 by kivrak uliana (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 7, 2022 by macareno Joaquín (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Ori Fragman-Sapir (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Nov 20, 2009 by EOL − Jan Ševčík (public)
Habit
Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Antoine le Clercq (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Nov 20, 2009 by EOL − Jan Ševčík (public)
Other
Taken Mar 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Mar 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2927520)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:267291-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cuscuta approximata Bab.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb, Vine
Growth
Ph maximum: 8.0
Ph minimum: 7.5
Light: 7
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Soil nutriments: 6