Family: Convolvulaceae
Author: Engelm.
Bibliography: Amer. J. Sci. Arts 43: 340 (1842)
Year: 1842
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Cuscuta
Vegetable: False
Observations: N. America to Belize, Cuba
Description
The five-angle dodder, scientifically known as Cuscuta pentagona, is a notable species belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. This parasitic plant has intrigued botanists and plant enthusiasts alike due to its unique morphological and ecological characteristics.
Cuscuta pentagona was first described in detail by the botanist Engelmann in 1842, as documented in the American Journal of Science and Arts. The plant derives its common name from the distinctive structure of its stems, which often exhibit a pentagonal shape when cross-sectioned. This distinctive feature helps in identifying the five-angle dodder among other species within the Cuscuta genus.
Geographically, the five-angle dodder exhibits a broad distribution, occurring natively across North America and extending down to Belize and Cuba. Its presence in such diverse climates and regions highlights its adaptive versatility. The plant typically thrives in environments where it can easily establish connections with host plants, from which it derives water and nutrients necessary for its survival.
In terms of its ecological impact, the five-angle dodder can often be seen twining around a variety of host plants. Its parasitic nature allows it to absorb resources directly from these hosts, sometimes leading to significant impacts on the growth and health of the host plants. This characteristic makes it a subject of interest in studies of plant-parasite relationships and ecosystem dynamics.
While the five-angle dodder might not be as widely recognized as some other plants within the Convolvulaceae family, its unique attributes and ecological role make it an important species for further study and observation, providing valuable insights into the complexities of plant interactions and the adaptive strategies of parasitic plants.
Common Names
Deu: amerikanische seide
Spa: barba de chivo
Eng: fiveangled dodder, bush-clover dodder, field dodder, five-angle dodder, lespedeza dodder, five-angled dodder, pentagon dodder
Fra: cuscute pentagonale
En: Five-angle dodder, BUSH-CLOVER DODDER, Bushclover dodder, Field dodder, Fiveangled dodder, Lespedeza dodder, Five-angled dodder, Pentagon dodder
Fr: Cuscute pentagonale
De: Amerikanische Seide
Es: Barba de chivo
Synonyms
- Cuscuta arvensis var. microcalyx ((Engelm.) Engelm.)
- Cuscuta arvensis var. pentagona ((Engelm.) Engelm.)
- Cuscuta pentagona var. typica (Yunck.)
- Cuscuta pentagona var. microcalyx (Engelm.)
- Grammica pentagona ((Engelm.) W.A.Weber)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Belize (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- California (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Florida (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New York (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Utah (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Albania (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bismarck Archipelago (introduced)
- Borneo (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Cook Is. (introduced)
- Cyprus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East Aegean Is. (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Fiji (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Gulf States (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Kriti (introduced)
- Krym (introduced)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
- Madagascar (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Nansei-shoto (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Niue (introduced)
- Northern Territory (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Portugal (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- Solomon Is. (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Tanzania (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Xinjiang (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
- Zimbabwe (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Catalin Gruia (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − This image is not copyrighted and may be freely used for any purpose. Please credit the artist, original publication if applicable, and the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. The following format is suggested and will be appreciated: Sheri Hagwood @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database If you cite PLA (public)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Fruit
Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Jacques Monchamp (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2927490)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:72922-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cuscuta pentagona Engelm.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb, Vine