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tapertip dodder

Scientific Name: Cuscuta attenuata

Family: Cuscutaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Vine, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Tapertip Dodder

This page provides information about the Tapertip Dodder, a parasitic plant with interesting characteristics and ecological interactions.

Considerations for Pets

  • As a vine, it may present a tangling hazard.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Cuscuta attenuata Waterfall
  • Common Names: Tapertip dodder, slender dodder, dodder

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Cuscutaceae (Dodder Family)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Rank: Species
  • Accepted Name: Cuscuta indecora var. attenuata (Waterfall) Costea (variety)
  • Synonyms: Allium acuminatum var. cuspidatum

Distribution and Habitat

  • Tapertip dodder has been observed in Comanche County, OK, and at Red Slough WMA.
  • Dodder in general seems to prefer playa edges.

Ecological Role

  • Cuscuta attenuata is a parasitic plant.
  • It almost exclusively parasitizes sumpweed (Iva annua).
  • It has also been recorded parasitizing Aster species.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Dodder is a vine.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Tapertip dodder parasitizes other plants, primarily sumpweed.

Further Information

  • Discover Life provides a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Tapertip dodder.