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greater dodder
Scientific Name: Cuscuta europaea
Family: Cuscutaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Vine, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Greater Dodder (Cuscuta europaea)
The Greater Dodder, scientifically known as Cuscuta europaea, also goes by several common names, including European Dodder and Nettle Dodder. Other names are hellweed, devil's gut, beggarweed, strangle tare, and scaldweed.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cuscuta europaea
- Family: Convolvulaceae (Bindweed Family; formerly classified under Cuscutaceae, the Dodder Family)
- Synonyms: Cuscuta major, Cuscuta vulgaris, Cuscuta lehmanniana
Considerations for Pets
- The plant has reddish stems which may attract the attention of pets.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to Europe.
- Introduced in western Maine (North America).
- UK distribution
Ecological Role
- Cuscuta europaea is a parasitic plant, meaning it obtains nutrients by attaching to and drawing resources from a host plant.
- It can cause significant damage to crops such as clover, alfalfa, flax, hops, and beans.
- Parasitic on cultivated annuals, lucerne crops, leguminous herbs, vegetable crops and forbs.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Annual plant.
- Flowers from August to September.
- The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)
- Lacks chlorophyll, leaves and roots.
- Absorbs food through haustoria
- Totally dependant upon its host.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- It is a parasitic plant that lives off other plants.
- It attaches to host plants to obtain nutrients.
- Host crops for dodder include lucerne in Australia.
Quirky Facts
- Greater Dodder is a plant with very little chlorophyll and cannot live on its own.