Cuscuta Sp. - Dodder

Family: Convolvulaceae (Dodder family)(Previously in Cuscutaceae)^[E-flora]

Local Species;

1. Cuscuta campestris - Field dodder ^[E-flora]
2. Cuscuta cephalanthi - Button-bush dodder ^[E-flora]
3. Cuscuta epithymum - Common dodder ^[E-flora]
4. Cuscuta pacifica - Salt marsh dodder ^[E-flora]

Cuscuta campestris - Field dodder

"General Parasitic, leafless perennial herb; stems threadlike, twining and sticking to other plants by means of suckers." ^[E-flora]

"Habitat/Range Parasitic, especially on legumes, in the lowland zone; rare in SW and SC BC; ranges over much of U.S. and S Canada." ^[E-flora]

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

References

• [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Cuscuta%20campestris&redblue=Both&lifeform=8

Cuscuta cephalanthi - Button-bush dodder

"General Parasitic, leafless perennial herb; stems threadlike, twining and sticking to other plants by means of suckers." ^[E-flora]

"Habitat/Range Parasitic on herbs, shrubs and subshrubs in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC; S to OR; also Atlantic Coast; possibly introduced." ^[E-flora]

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Synonym: Grammica cephalanthi (Engelm.) Hadac & Chrtek ^[E-flora]

References

• [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Cuscuta%20cephalanthi&redblue=Both&lifeform=8

Cuscuta epithymum - Common dodder

"General Parasitic, leafless perennial herb; stems threadlike, twining and sticking to other plants by means of suckers." ^[E-flora]

"Cuscuta epithymum is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." ^[PFAF]

"Habitat/Range Parasitic, especially on legumes, in the lowland and steppe zones; infrequent in SW and SC BC; introduced from Eurasia." ^[E-flora] "Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Spain and east to the Caucasus and central Asia." ^[PFAF]

Status: Exotic ^[E-flora]

Medicinal Uses

"Lesser dodder is considered to be a valuable though little used herbal remedy that supports the liver, being used for problems affecting the liver and gallbladder[254]." ^[PFAF] "The plant should not be used by anyone suffering from haemorrhoids[7]." ^[PFAF]

• Homeopathic
  • "A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7]." ^[PFAF]
• Whole Plant
  • "The whole plant is antibilious, appetizer, carminative, cholagogue, mildly diuretic, hepatic, laxative and antiscorbutic[4, 218]." ^[PFAF]
• Stems
  • Decoction: "A decoction is used in the treatment of urinary complaints, kidney, spleen and liver disorders, jaundice, sciatica and scorbutic complaints[4]." ^[PFAF]
  • Anticancer: "It also has a reputation as an anticancer agent and as a specific for gout[218]." ^[PFAF]

References

1. [E-flora] Cuscuta epithymum, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Cuscuta%20epithymum&redblue=Both&lifeform=8, Accessed April 4, 2020
2. [PFAF] https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cuscuta+epithymum, Accessed October 2, 2020

Cuscuta pacifica - Salt marsh dodder

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

• Cuscuta pacifica var. pacifica

"General Parasitic, leafless perennial herb; stems threadlike, twining and sticking to other plants by means of suckers." ^[E-flora]

Habitat/Range "Parasitic on plants of the Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae on saline sites in the lowland zone; locally frequent in SW BC, known from S Vancouver lsland, the Gulf Islands and the lower Fraser Valley; S to UT, AZ, CA and MX." ^[E-flora]

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

References

• [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Cuscuta%20pacifica&redblue=Both&lifeform=8, Accessed Oct 2, 2020