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Cuscuta globulosa

Also known as West Indian dodder, Cuscuta globulosa is a parasitic plant belonging to the genus Cuscuta, commonly referred to as dodder or love-vine.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cuscuta globulosa Benth.
• Family: Cuscutaceae (Convolvulaceae according to pollen morphology studies)
• Common Names: West Indian dodder, dodder, love-vine
• Synonyms: Cuscuta indecora Choisy (= C. jepsonil Yunck.)

Distribution and Habitat

Cuscuta globulosa is found in:

• West Indies
• South America
• Parts of North America
• Southeastern and Gulf states of the United States
• Mexico

Ecological Role

• Dodder species are annual parasitic weeds that infest various crops.
• They attach to host plants using tendrils and obtain nutrients.
• Infestations can cause annual losses in agricultural settings.
• The spreading of dodders is a concern in agricultural areas.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Dodder plants rely on food reserves before reaching a host plant.
• Dodder is an annual stem parasite.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Dodder attaches itself to a variety of host plants.
• It is a parasitic plant that obtains nutrients from its host.

Traditional Uses

• The stems of Cuscuta species are used in Western herbalism.
• The seeds are used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic healing practices.
• In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Dodder Seed (Tu Si Zi) is used primarily for impotence.

Related Species

• A similar-appearing plant in many Caribbean islands is Cassytha filiformis, which belongs to the Lauraceae family.

Further Information

• Revision of the North American and West Indian species of Cuscuta by T. G. Yuncker (1921).
• Discover Life: Discover Life's page about Cuscuta globulosa