Flora of North America species comparison

The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

Cuscuta indecora

Cuscuta subg. Grammica

big seed alfalfa dodder, collared dodder, inelegant dodder, large-seed dodder
Stems

yellow to orange, slender to medium.

Inflorescences

loose to dense, paniculiform or corymbiform, sometimes originating endogenously;

bracts at base of clusters 1, at base of pedicels 0 or 1, ovate to lanceolate, membranous, margins entire, apex acute.

monochasial cymes: corymbiform, fasciculate, glomerulate, paniculiform, racemiform, ropelike, spiciform, or umbelliform.
Pedicels

0.5–6 mm, usually papillate.

0–10 mm.
Flowers

5-merous, 3–4.5(–5.3) mm, fleshy, perianth cells convex, domelike, perianth and ovary usually papillate;

calyx creamy yellow to brownish, cupulate, 1/2–3/4 or longer than corolla tube length, divided 1/3–2/3 its length, not reticulate or shiny, lobes triangular-ovate to lanceolate, bases overlapping or not, margins entire, midvein not carinate, apex acute to attenuate;

corolla white, drying creamy yellow to dark brown, 2.5–4(–5) mm, tube campanulate to campanulate-cylindric, becoming subglobose or urceolate, 1.7–3 mm, not saccate, lobes suberect to erect, triangular-ovate, 1/3 to equaling corolla tube length, margins entire, apex acute, inflexed;

infrastaminal scales subspatulate to spatulate, 1.7–3 mm, equaling corolla tube length, bridged at 0.3–0.9 mm, usually rounded, rarely truncate or 2 or 3(or 4)-lobed, uniformly densely fimbriate, fimbriae 0.4–0.7 mm;

stamens barely exserted or included, shorter than corolla lobes;

filaments 0.3–0.7 mm;

anthers 0.3–0.8 × 0.2–0.5 mm;

styles filiform, 1–2.5 mm, equaling ovary.

sometimes originating endogenously;

styles 2, unequal;

stigmas globose.
Capsules

globose to subglobose, 2–3.5 × 1.9–4(–5) mm, thickened and raised around relatively mid-sized interstylar aperture, translucent, surrounded or capped by withered corolla, indehiscent.

indehiscent or dehiscence circumscissile.
Seeds

2–4, shape heterogeneous on same plant: obcompressed to weakly angled, broadly ellipsoid to transversely oblique, 1.4–1.8 × 1.2–1.6 mm, hilum region usually subterminal, rarely almost terminal.

angled (2 flat faces and 1 convex), globose, obcompressed, oblong, ellipsoid, obovoid, or ovoid;

seed coat epidermis cells honeycombed when dry and papillate when wet.

Cuscuta indecora

Cuscuta subg. Grammica
Distribution
from USDA
North America; Mexico; South America; West Indies
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
North America; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies; Asia; Australia [Introduced nearly worldwide]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Cuscuta indecora is closely related to C. coryli; it differs by its usually five-merous, larger flowers, uniformly densely fimbriate infrastaminal scales, and more or less translucent, globose to subglobose capsules.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Species 153 (45 in the flora).

Cuscuta australis R. Brown, known from Asia and Australia, was collected in Jefferson County, New York, in 1926 (NY); it is not known to be established or recurrent in the flora area.

Cuscuta veatchii Brandegee is known only from Baja California, Mexico; it does not grow in the flora area.

Evolution of gynoecia with two unequal styles may have been the key evolutionary innovation that spurred the considerable species diversity encountered in subg. Grammica. The two stigmas mature sequentially and are receptive at different times (M. A. R. Wright et al. 2011). Cases of reticulate evolution have been discovered in subg. Grammica (S. Stefanović and M. Costea 2008; Costea and Stefanović 2010; Costea et al. 2015).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Calyces shorter than corolla tubes, divided 1/3–1/2 lengths, lobes triangular-ovate, bases overlapping.
var. indecora
1. Calyces longer than corolla tubes, divided 2/3 lengths, lobes lanceolate, bases not overlapping.
→ 2
2. Flower clusters loose; calyx lobe apices acute; hosts: herbs and woody plants, including Iva annua.
var. longisepala
2. Flower clusters dense; calyx lobe apices acute-attenuate; hosts: usually Iva annua, rarely Symphyotrichum.
var. attenuata
1. Capsules: dehiscence circumscissile.
→ 2
2. Styles ± subulate (tapering from base to stigma).
→ 3
3. Flowers: calyx and receptacle fleshy, corollas membranous; corolla lobes without hornlike appendages; capsules 4–7 × 4–6 mm.
C. mitriformis
3. Flowers membranous; corolla lobes each with a hornlike appendage; capsules 1.8–2.5 × 1–2.5 mm.
→ 4
4. Pedicels 0.2–0.6 mm; calyx lobes oblong, obovate, ovate, or spatulate, apex acute to obtuse, each exceeded by a hornlike appendage; seeds 0.7–1.1 × 0.7–0.9 mm.
C. boldinghii
4. Pedicels 1.5–6 mm; calyx lobes oblong-obovate or orbiculate, apex ± truncate, each not exceeded by a hornlike appendage; seeds 0.9–1.4 × 0.8–1.3 mm.
C. erosa
2. Styles filiform (not tapered; sometimes slightly subulate in C. dentatasquamata).
→ 5
5. Calyces divided 1/4 length; seeds 1.
C. americana
5. Calyces divided 1/3–3/4 length or ± to base; seeds (1 or)2–4.
→ 6
6. Infrastaminal scales usually 1/4–1/2 corolla tube length (1/2 to equaling in C. odontolepis).
→ 7
7. Inflorescences dense, paniculiform-glomerulate; calyx lobe bases over­lapping; capsules 2.9–4 × 3–3.2 mm; seeds 1–1.2 × 0.6–0.8 mm.
C. odontolepis
7. Inflorescences loose, racemiform or umbelliform; calyx lobe bases not overlapping; capsules 1.3–2.2 × (0.7–)1.5–2.3 mm; seeds 0.6–0.9(–1.1) × 0.3–0.8 mm.
→ 8
8. Flowers 5-merous; calyx lobe midveins carinate; corolla lobes erect.
C. tuberculata
8. Flowers (3 or)4-merous; calyx lobe midveins not carinate, sometimes with multicellular protuberances; corolla lobes spreading to reflexed.
→ 9
9. Calyces 1/3–1/2 corolla tube length; infrastaminal scales 1/2 corolla tube length.
C. leptantha
9. Calyces equaling corolla tube length; infrastaminal scales 1/4–1/3 corolla tube length.
C. liliputana
6. Infrastaminal scales equaling or longer than corolla tube.
→ 10
10. Pedicels 2–10 mm; calyx lobe midveins not carinate, without multicellular protuberances.
→ 11
11. Flowers 4–5.5(–6) mm; calyx lobe apices acuminate.
C. legitima
11. Flowers 2–3 mm; calyx lobe apices obtuse to acute.
C. umbellata
10. Pedicels 0.3–2 mm; calyx lobe midveins carinate and/or with multicellular protuberances.
→ 12
12. Calyx lobe bases overlapping, apices obtuse or rounded; corolla lobe apices rounded to obtuse.
C. chinensis
12. Calyx lobe bases not overlapping, apices acute; corolla lobe apices acute.
→ 13
13. Flowers 2–2.6 mm, membranous; calyces straw yellow; infra­staminal scales oblong or rounded, distal 1/2 fimbriate; capsules 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.8 mm.
C. azteca
13. Flowers 2.6–3.8 mm, fleshy; calyces reddish brown; infrastaminal scales truncate or distally irregularly denticulate or 3–7-fimbriate; capsules 3–4 × 1.8–2.9 mm.
C. dentatasquamata
1. Capsules indehiscent.
→ 14
14. Bracts at bases of flower clusters, pedicels, and/or flowers (or on pedicels) 2–11; calyces divided to base or nearly so.
→ 15
15. Pedicels 2–5 mm; inflorescences loose, paniculiform.
C. cuspidata
15. Pedicels 0–1 mm; inflorescences glomerulate, ropelike, or spiciform.
→ 16
16. Inflorescences dense, ropelike, spiraling around and closely appressed to host stem, individual flower clusters not discernible; bracts narrowly triangular to lanceolate, apex recurved.
C. glomerata
16. Inflorescences dense to loose, glomerulate or spiciform, not ropelike, individual flower clusters discernible; bracts ovate-orbiculate to ovate-triangular, apex erect.
→ 17
17. Calyx lobes orbiculate, apices rounded; corolla lobe apices obtuse; seeds 1.9–2.5 × 1.7–2.3 mm.
C. compacta
17. Calyx lobes ovate, apices acute to cuspidate; corolla lobe apices usually acute, sometimes cuspidate; seeds 1.5–1.7 × 1.1–1.3 mm.
C. squamata
14. Bracts at bases of flower clusters 1(–3), at bases of pedicels and/or flowers (0 or)1(–3); calyces divided 2/5–2/3 length.
→ 18
18. Infrastaminal scales absent.
→ 19
19. Corolla lobes ovate-triangular, 1/3–1/2 tube length, apices inflexed.
C. jepsonii
19. Corolla lobes narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, shorter than, equaling, or longer than tube, apices straight.
→ 20
20. Styles 0.5–1(–1.5) mm; anthers 0.2–0.5 mm; capsules surrounded by, not completely enclosed by, withered corolla (capsule top visible).
C. occidentalis
20. Styles 1.2–3 mm; anthers 0.6–1.1 mm; capsules surrounded by, sometimes also capped by, withered corolla (capsule top not or barely visible).
→ 21
21. Calyces 1/4–1/2 corolla tube length; corolla lobes shorter than or equaling tube; stamen filaments 0.3–0.6 mm.
C. brachycalyx
21. Calyces 3/4 to equaling corolla tube length; corolla lobes equaling or longer than tube; stamen filaments 0.6–1.1 mm.
C. californica
18. Infrastaminal scales present.
→ 22
22. Infrastaminal scales relatively poorly developed, apically irregularly denticulate, or 2-fid with 1–3 fimbriae on each side of filament attachment, or 2-fid with denticulate wings.
→ 23
23. Calyx lobes each with a hornlike appendage 0.5–0.7 mm.
C. warneri
23. Calyx lobes without hornlike appendages.
→ 24
24. Calyx lobe apices obtuse to rounded.
C. polygonorum
24. Calyx lobe apices acute to long-attenuate.
→ 25
25. Flowers fleshy; corolla lobe apices acute, inflexed; styles 0.7–1.8 mm, usually equaling, sometimes longer than, ovary; capsules not translucent, interstylar aperture relatively large; 50–1200 m, not California, Oregon, Washington.
C. coryli
25. Flowers membranous; corolla lobe apices lance-attenuate, straight; styles 0.3–0.7 mm, 1/4 ovary length; capsules translucent, interstylar aperture relatively small; 1500–2600 m, California, Oregon, Washington.
C. suksdorfii
22. Infrastaminal scales well developed, notably fimbriate.
→ 26
26. Calyx and corolla lobe apices dissimilar: calyx lobe apices obtuse, rounded, or subacute; corolla lobe apices usually acuminate, acute, or subacute, sometimes cuspidate, mucronate, or truncate, usually inflexed (± cucullate in C. draconella).
→ 27
27. Calyces 1/2–3/4 corolla tube length; corolla lobes 1/2 tube length.
C. suaveolens
27. Calyces usually equaling corolla tube length, sometimes shorter (C. runyonii); corolla lobes equaling or longer than tube.
→ 28
28. Flowers (3 or)4(or 5)-merous.
→ 29
29. Calyces angled, lobe bases overlapping, midvein ± carinate; capsules globose to ovoid; seeds 1 or 2.
C. harperi
29. Calyces not angled, lobe bases not overlapping, midvein not carinate; capsules depressed-globose; seeds 3 or 4.
C. polygonorum
28. Flowers (4 or)5-merous.
→ 30
30. Calyx lobe midveins with multicellular protuberances.
→ 31
31. Calyces ± angled, lobe bases overlapping.
C. draconella
31. Calyces not angled, lobe bases not overlapping.
C. runyonii
30. Calyx lobe midveins without multicellular protuberances.
→ 32
32. Calyces angled, lobes broadly ovate to rhombic, bases auriculate, overlapping; flowers 1.4–2.5 mm; corolla tubes 0.7–1.2 mm; anthers 0.2–0.3 mm.
C. pentagona
32. Calyces not angled, lobes ovate-triangular to triangular, not auricu­late, bases overlapping or not; flowers 1.9–4.6(–5) mm; corolla tubes 1.1–2.5 mm; anthers (0.3–)0.4–0.7 mm.
→ 33
33. Calyx lobe bases overlapping; capsules to 1/3 enveloped by withered corolla.
C. campestris
33. Calyx lobe bases not or slightly overlapping; capsules 1/2+ enveloped by withered corolla.
→ 34
34. Perianths papillate (sometimes not obvious in calyx); corollas drying reddish brown to yellow, tube cam­panulate, later globose, saccate between lines of stamen attachments; infrastaminal scales equaling or longer than corolla tube.
C. glabrior
34. Perianths not papillate; corollas drying creamy white, tube narrowly campanulate to cylindro-campanulate, not saccate between lines of stamen attachments; infra­staminal scales 3/4–4/5 corolla tube length.
C. plattensis
26. Calyx and corolla lobe apices similar: calyx lobe apices either: 1) usually acuminate, acute, long-attenuate, and rarely cuspidate (C. subinclusa) or subacute, or 2) usually obtuse to rounded; corolla lobe apices acuminate, acute, long-attenuate, cuspidate (C. pacifica and C. salina), obtuse, or rounded, usually straight, rarely inflexed (C. indecora) or recurved (C. howelliana).
→ 35
35. Calyx lobe apices obtuse to rounded; corolla lobe apices obtuse to rounded.
→ 36
36. Calyces straw yellow, reticulate, shiny, lobe margins denticulate; seeds 1, globose to globose-ovoid.
C. denticulata
36. Calyces yellow-brown or brownish, not or finely reticulate, or not or slightly shiny, lobe margins usually entire, sometimes serrulate; seeds (1 or)2–4, ± angled, ellipsoid, obcompressed, oblong, obovoid, ovoid, or subglobose.
→ 37
37. Flowers (3 or)4(or 5)-merous.
C. cephalanthi
37. Flowers (4 or)5-merous.
→ 38
38. Calyces equaling corolla tube length; capsules depressed-globose, not raised or thickened around interstylar aperture.
C. obtusiflora
38. Calyces usually 1/3–1/2 corolla tube length, sometimes equaling corolla tube (C. gronovii var. latiflora); capsules conic-globose, ovoid, or subobpyri­form, raised and thickened around interstylar aperture.
→ 39
39. Flowers 4–6(–7) mm; capsules broadly ovoid (with stout beak 1–1.5 mm).
C. rostrata
39. Flowers 2–4(–4.4) mm; capsules conic-globose, ovoid, or subob­pyriform (rarely apically narrowed into a neck to 1 mm).
→ 40
40. Infrastaminal scales equaling corolla tube; styles (0.6–)1.2–2.2 mm; capsules 2.5–4.5(–5.2) mm.
C. gronovii
40. Infrastaminal scales (1/3)–1/2 corolla tube length; styles 0.3–0.9 mm; capsules 3.5–6.5(–7) mm.
C. umbrosa
35. Calyx lobe apices usually acuminate, acute, or long-attenuate, rarely cuspidate (C. subinclusa); corolla lobe apices usually acuminate, acute, or long-attenuate, sometimes cuspidate (C. pacifica and C. salina).
→ 41
41. Flowers fleshy; corolla lobe apices inflexed.
C. indecora
41. Flowers membranous or base of perianth and receptacle fleshy (C. nevadensis); corolla lobe apices usually straight, rarely recurved (C. howelliana).
→ 42
42. Flowers 5–7(–9) mm; calyces 1/2 corolla tube length; corolla lobes 1/4–1/3 tube length; anthers 0.8–2 mm.
C. subinclusa
42. Flowers (2.5–)2.8–5(–6) mm; calyces equaling or longer than corolla tube; corolla lobes equaling or longer than tube; anthers 0.3–0.8 mm.
→ 43
43. Infrastaminal scales equaling corolla tube; embryo bases globose-enlarged.
C. nevadensis
43. Infrastaminal scales 1/2–2/3(–4/5) corolla tube length; embryo bases not globose-enlarged.
→ 44
44. Flowers embedded in inflorescence of host, 4(or 5)-merous; calyx lobe apices acuminate to long-attenuate; capsules depressed-globose to globose.
C. howelliana
44. Flowers not embedded in inflorescence of host, 5-merous; calyx lobe apices acuminate to acute; capsules ellipsoid-ovoid or ovoid.
→ 45
45. Inflorescences subglomerulate to umbelliform; pedicels 0.5–2 mm; flowers 3.5–6 mm; corolla tubes campanulate, lobes broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate; infrastaminal scales 1/2–3/4 corolla tube length; coastal salt marshes and tidal flats, coastal interdune depressions and grasslands.
C. pacifica
45. Inflorescences corymbiform; pedicels (0.5–)1–5 mm; flowers 2.5–4.5 mm; corolla tubes ± cylindric-campanulate to obconic, lobes lance-oblong to lance-ovate; infrastaminal scales 4/5 corolla tube length; inland salt flats.
C. salina
Source FNA vol. 14. FNA vol. 14.
Parent taxa Convolvulaceae > Cuscuta > subg. Grammica Convolvulaceae > Cuscuta
Sibling taxa
C. americana, C. approximata, C. azteca, C. boldinghii, C. brachycalyx, C. californica, C. campestris, C. cephalanthi, C. chinensis, C. compacta, C. coryli, C. cuspidata, C. dentatasquamata, C. denticulata, C. draconella, C. epilinum, C. epithymum, C. erosa, C. europaea, C. exaltata, C. glabrior, C. glomerata, C. gronovii, C. harperi, C. howelliana, C. japonica, C. jepsonii, C. legitima, C. leptantha, C. liliputana, C. mitriformis, C. nevadensis, C. obtusiflora, C. occidentalis, C. odontolepis, C. pacifica, C. pentagona, C. plattensis, C. polygonorum, C. rostrata, C. runyonii, C. salina, C. squamata, C. suaveolens, C. subinclusa, C. suksdorfii, C. tuberculata, C. umbellata, C. umbrosa, C. warneri
Subordinate taxa
C. indecora var. attenuata, C. indecora var. indecora, C. indecora var. longisepala
C. americana, C. azteca, C. boldinghii, C. brachycalyx, C. californica, C. campestris, C. cephalanthi, C. chinensis, C. compacta, C. coryli, C. cuspidata, C. dentatasquamata, C. denticulata, C. draconella, C. erosa, C. glabrior, C. glomerata, C. gronovii, C. harperi, C. howelliana, C. indecora, C. jepsonii, C. legitima, C. leptantha, C. liliputana, C. mitriformis, C. nevadensis, C. obtusiflora, C. occidentalis, C. odontolepis, C. pacifica, C. pentagona, C. plattensis, C. polygonorum, C. rostrata, C. runyonii, C. salina, C. squamata, C. suaveolens, C. subinclusa, C. suksdorfii, C. tuberculata, C. umbellata, C. umbrosa, C. warneri
Synonyms Grammica
Name authority Choisy: Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 9: 278, plate 3, fig. 3. (1842) (Loureiro) Peter in H. G. A. Engler and K. Prantl: Nat. Pflanzenfam. 68[IV,3a]: 38. (1891)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



Type/paste one or more Latin names into the boxes above; matching taxa will show up below the box as you type. You can use the up/down arrow keys to move through the list.

(If the plant you're looking for doesn't show up in the auto-complete list, that means it either isn't described in Flora of North America yet, or it's listed under a synonym. And please note that Flora of North America is still missing several plant families, including Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, and Polemoniaceae.)

Choose a data source: Flora of North America, OregonFlora, UW Burke Herbarium

The species comparison tool is brought to you by:
Northwest Wildflowers