Scientific Family
Cuscutaceae
Synonyms
Cuscuta arvensis, C.pentagona var. pentagona, Grammica pentagona
Other common names
Bush-Clover dodder
field dodder
lespedeza dodder
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Similar species
Cuscuta grovonii, C. indecora var. neuropetala, C. campestris
Height
Over 20 inches long
Riparian
Yes
Vine with pale orange or pinkish-yellow stems, climbing on other plants and attaching to them to invade tissue of the host plant to absorb food.
Parasitic vine to 20 inches long; 5 petals fuse half way, separate into 5 flaring narrowly triangular lobes, tips pointed; 5 sepals; 5 stamens; stigma head-like; compact round flower clusters; fruit mostly 2-seeded; common on clover hosts.
Habitat
Occasional, in a variety of habitats from prairies, sandy flats, old fields, sandstone ledges and disturbed soils. Collection in Watson Woods.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
0
High elevation
0
Flower Characteristics
Many, stalkless, white to greenish-white, tiny, radially symmetric, somewhat bell-shaped (about as tall as wide), with 5 flaring or bent backward, pointed petal lobes, 5 sepals and 5 stamens; small, compact flower clusters are very short-stalked.
Flower color
White to greenish-white
Flower shape
Bell-shaped
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Alternate, pale orange or pinkish-yellow stems; leaves very small, scale-like.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Pale orange or pinkish-yellow
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Small, somewhat rounded, 2-seeded, membranous capsules. The withered petal tube remains attached as a cup to the base of the fruit.
Fruit type
Capsule