Dodder (Cuscuta campestris, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 18: 138 (1932))

Family: Convolvulaceae

Author: Yunck.

Bibliography: Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 18: 138 (1932)

Year: 1932

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cuscuta

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: N. America, Caribbean. W. South America

Description

Dodder, scientifically known as Cuscuta campestris, is a fascinating parasitic plant that belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. First described in detail by Yuncker in 1932, this plant has captivated botanists and plant enthusiasts alike due to its unique lifestyle and adaptation strategies.

Dodder is characterized by its slender, yellow to orange, thread-like stems which lack chlorophyll, making it dependent on host plants for sustenance. Unlike most plants that harness sunlight through photosynthesis, Dodder latches onto other plants with its specialized structures known as haustoria, which penetrate the host’s tissues to extract water and nutrients. This parasitic relationship can affect a variety of host plants, often leading to a detrimental impact on their growth and health.

Geographically, Cuscuta campestris is predominantly found across North America and the Caribbean, extending into Western South America. These regions offer a diverse range of host plants, enabling Dodder to thrive in different ecological niches. Its presence in these areas is a testament to its adaptability and the ecological interactions it has formed over time.

Understanding Dodder’s biological and ecological characteristics provides valuable insights into plant parasitism and the complex interdependencies within ecosystems. Given its parasitic nature, it is also a subject of interest in agricultural research, particularly in understanding its impacts on crop plants and exploring methods for managing its spread.

In summary, Dodder (Cuscuta campestris) is more than just a plant; it is an example of evolutionary ingenuity, showcasing the intricate relationships that define the natural world. Whether viewed from a botanical perspective or within the broader context of ecosystem dynamics, its study continues to reveal important aspects of plant science and ecology.

Common Names

Deu: amerikanische seide, grosse kleeseide, nordamerikanische seide, nordamerikanischer teufelszwirn
Heb: cshut ha’sadot, כשות השדות
Ita: cuscuta dei campi
Fra: cuscute des champs, cuscute champêtre
Lit: dirvinis brantas
Dan: gulstænglet silke, storkronet silke
Pol: kanianka polna
Nld: veldwarkruid
Eng: yellow dodder, common dodder, dodder, field dodder, golden dodder, prairie dodder, western field dodder
Por: cabelos, cuscuta, enleios
Spa: fideo
Afr: gewone dodder
Ara: hamool
Ces: kokotice ladní, kuku
Lav: lauka vija, tīruma vija
Hun: nagy aranka
Est: põldvõrm
Swe: amerikansk grovsnärja
Cym: llindag melyn
En: Dodder, Field dodder, Prairie dodder, Common dodder, Yellow dodder, Golden dodder, Western field dodder, Bushclover dodder
Af: Gewone dodder
Ar: Hamool, حمول (حَمول)
Cs: Kokotice ladní, Kuku
Da: Gulstænglet silke, Storkronet silke
Nl: Veldwarkruid
Et: Põldvõrm
Fr: Cuscute des champs, Cuscute champêtre
De: Nordamerikanische Seide, Amerikanische Seide, Grosse Kleeseide, Nordamerikanischer Teufelszwirn, Große Klee-Seide
He: Cshut ha’sadot, כשות השדות
Hu: Nagy aranka
It: Cuscuta dei campi, Cuscuta ungherese
Lv: Lauka vija, Tīruma vija
Lt: Dirvinis brantas
Pl: Kanianka polna
Pt: Cabelos, Cuscuta, Enleios
Pt-br: Cipó-de-chumbo, Cipó-dourado
Es: Fideo, Cabellos del monte
Sv: Amerikansk grovsnärja
Cy: Llindag Melyn

Synonyms

• Cuscuta arvensis var. capsici (Degen & Linhart)
• Cuscuta kamelorum (Pavlov)
• Cuscuta pentagona var. calycina (Engelm.)
• Epithymum arvense ((Beyr. ex Engelm.) Nieuwl. & Lunell)
• Grammica campestris ((Yunck.) Hadac & Chrtek)
• Cuscuta pentagona var. subulata (Yunck.)
• Cuscuta arvensis (Beyr. ex Engelm.)
• Cuscuta gymnocarpa subsp. deflexa (Buia)
• Cuscuta arvensis var. calycina ((Engelm.) Engelm.)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• California (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• Florida (native)
• Galápagos (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Louisiana (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)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Afghanistan (introduced)
• Albania (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Chita (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iran (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 25, 2018 by Mihajlo Tomić (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 10, 2021 by Giovanni Vannacci (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 12, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Samantha BAZAN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Hugues TINGUY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by Tomaž Jančar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Sandra17 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 29, 2019 by Michel Mosnier Thoumas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2020 by Michelle Goudail (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 10, 2021 by Giovanni Vannacci (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Feya Sterling (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Jacques Maréchal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by nikos siolios (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2019 by guydoli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 30, 2021 by Mallol Camprubí Albert (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 15, 2011 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)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:72786-2)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3610757)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cuscuta campestris Yunck.)

Specifications

Growth