CUSCUTA PLANIFLORA

Family and Genus:- See- CONVOLVULACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cuscuta (L) A name used by the botanist Rufinus for dodder, from

Arabic keckout.

Planiflora (L) Flat flowered.

General description:- Scrambling and entwining parasitic plant.

Stems:-

1) Slender, yellowish, thread-like, much branched.

Leaves:-

1) Reduced to tiny scales, without chlorophyll.

Flowers:-

1) 1·5-2·5 mm, 5-merous; glomerules 5-6 mm in diam, small, compact, globose.

2) Calyx, white, rarely pink, as long as the corolla-tube, deeply divided.

a) lobes, longer than the tube, distinctly turgid (swollen, nearly semicircular in

cross-section), oblong or more rarely ovate.

3) Corolla, white.

a) lobes, patent, acute, about as long as the campanulate tube, often cucullate

at the apex.

4) Stamens, exserted.

5) Scales, oblong, usually reaching the stamens, shortly fimbriate.

6) Styles (including stigmas) about as long as the ovary.

Fruit:-

1) Capsules, depressed-spherical, which are surrounded by the remains of the

crown.

2) Seeds, smaller than 1mm.

Key features:-

1) Plant, not blackening when dry.

2) Flowers, white or purplish.

3) Calyx-lobes, oblong (rarely ovate), longer than the tube, swollen, nearly

semicircular in cross-section.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Parasitic on various herbs and grasses, sometimes on dwarf shrubs,

(Cistus, Sarcopterium). 0-1600 m.

Distribution:- Fairly widespread and common across the Mediterranean. Limited

distribution on Crete. Not common.

Flowering time:- Mainly Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton