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Harper's dodder
Scientific Name: Cuscuta harperi
Family: Cuscutaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Vine, Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names: GA (Harper dodder)
Harper's Dodder (Cuscuta harperi)
Considerations for Pets
- Harper's Dodder is a vine.
- Dodder is a rootless, leafless, parasitic flowering plant.
Considerations for Children
- Harper's Dodder is a vine.
- Dodder is a rootless, leafless, parasitic flowering plant.
Harper's Dodder (Cuscuta harperi) is a fascinating parasitic plant with a unique lifestyle.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Cuscuta harperi Small
- Common Name: Harper's Dodder
- Synonyms: None explicitly mentioned, but be aware of potential synonyms used in older literature.
- Family: Convolvulaceae (or sometimes Cuscutaceae, the Dodder family)
- Rank: Species
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the U.S. (specific regions require further investigation)
Ecological Role
- Harper's Dodder is a parasitic plant, meaning it relies on other plants for survival. It obtains nutrients from its host plant.
- Monocots are generally not dodder host plants.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is a vine.
- Dodder is rootless and leafless as an adult parasitic plant. Dodder seeds germinate in soil, but the roots eventually die as the plant parasitizes a host.
- Flowers can be 5-merous or 4-merous.
- It is a forb/herb.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Harper's Dodder parasitizes other plants.
- Dodder plants who attack tomatoes and rock cress were found to exchange genetic information with them.
Further Information
- USDA PLANTS Database: Symbol CUHA
- Discover Life: Provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cuscuta harperi.