Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Largeseed Dodder, Cuscuta indecora

Largeseed Dodder, Cuscuta indecora
Largeseed Dodder Flowers, Cuscuta indecora

Largeseed Dodder Flowers	Largeseed Dodder Flowers
Cuscuta indecora Flowers	Largeseed Dodder Seed Pods

Largeseed Dodder Cuscuta indecora, Dodder Family: ( Cuscutaceae ), Dodder. Also called: angel's hair, devilguts, devil's hair, devil's ringlet, goldthread, hailplant, hairweed, hell bind, love vine, pull down, stranglevine, strangleweed, tangle gut, and witches' shoelaces. There are 17 species of dodder found in Arizona and approximately 170 species worldwide. Dodders are parasitic, stringy, leafless, rootless, yellow-stemmed vines that attach to and obtain nutrients from host plants. Despite their almost complete lack of chlorophyll and leaves, dodders are true flowering plants, and are closely related to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). The dodders are a very difficult group to identify. Upon emergence, the leafless dodder seedlings make a counterclockwise twining until they make contact with a host plant. Dodder makes the attachment to a host in less than 24 hours. The dodder seedlings that fail to find a host die within about 10 days. Dodder is on the USDA's "Top Ten Weeds List." It is a restricted noxious weed in Arizona. However, Cuscuta indecora is considered native and is not on the list. Height: About 3 - 6 feet spread as they cover the host plant. Flowers: White or cream colored flowers that are bellshaped, fleshy mostly 5-lobed, 1/12 to 1/4 inch long, and arranged in clusters along the stems. Blooming Time: July to September. Usually September - October At 5,000 Feet. Fruit: The fruit is a round capsule that is approximately 3 mm long and it contains 4 seeds. Leaves: The dioecious, narrow, linear, stalkless leaves are untoothed, with recurved (rolled) margins, coverd with a fine grey down, usually giving a grey - green to a golden - yellow overall appearance. Leaves are basically reduced to scales. Found: Found throughout Arizona. Elevation: 0 - 5000 Feet. Habitat: Parasite of woody as well as herbaceous plants. Especially, mesquite, and catclaw. Miscellaneous: Leaves Photos Taken May 17, 2005. Hillside. Flower Photos Taken September 30, 2006. Hillside and Bagdad.