Family: Convolvulaceae
Cuscuta campestris
Citation:
Yuncker, Mem. Torrey Bot. Cl. 18:138, fig. 14 (1932).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Golden dodder, field dodder.
Description:
Stems slender, yellowish.
Inflorescence axillary, subtended by a concave oblong to ovate-oblong obtuse bract 1.5-2 mm long; flowers 5- rarely 4-merous, in relatively compact clusters up to 15 mm diam.; pedicels shorter than the flowers, stout, 1-2 mm long; calyx more or less equalling the corolla tube, 1.5-1.8 mm long, lobes unequal, broadly ovate to oblong-ovate, rounded, obtuse to barely acute, much longer than the tube, slightly overlapping at the base; corolla 2-3 mm long, lobes triangular, more or less acute with inflexed tips, equalling or longer than the tube; stamens with filaments 0.8-1.5 mm long, longer than the anthers; infrastaminal scales oblong, exceeding the corolla tube, abundantly fimbriate, fimbriae up to 0.5 mm long; styles 0.5-1 mm long; stigmas capitate.
Capsule depressed-globular, 2.5-3.5 mm diam., with the interstylar opening 0.6-1 mm long, not circumscissile dehiscence; seeds 1-1.5 mm long.
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Image source: fig. 527B in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 560.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: LE, MU, SL, SE. Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Native to America and widely naturalised throughout the world.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: mainly Dec. — April.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
Parasitic on cultivated annuals, particularly Compositae but also lucerne and generally naturalised forbs.
Author:
Not yet available
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