Cuscuta epithymum
(L.) Murray Common DodderStems pale yellow, reddish or purple. Inflorescence a compact axillary cluster mostly 6–10 mm diam., subtended by an obtuse bract 1.5–2 mm long. Flowers 5-merous; pedicels 0–0.5 mm long; calyx 1.8–2.5 mm long, lobes unequal, ovate-triangular, acute, much longer than tube; corolla 2.5–4 mm long, white or pinkish, lobes triangular, acute, c. equal to tube; filaments 0.5–0.8 mm long, slightly longer than anthers; scales subtending stamens oblong, shorter than or equal to corolla-tube, very shortly fringed; stigmas linear. Capsule subglobose, c. 2 mm diam., circumscissile; seeds c. 1 mm long. Flowers mainly spring and summer.
GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, HSF, HNF, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Native to Europe and the Mediterranean region. A widespread weed often parasitic on leguminous herbs, but including a wide range of hosts from different families.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Cuscutaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 375–379. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
