CUSCUTA COMPACTA
Juss. ex Choisy
Sessile Dodder
FAMILY: Convolvulaceae.
HABIT: Leafless annual vines of indeterminate length,
parasitic on a variety of herbaceous and woody species; flowering and fruiting
July-October.
SIMILAR SPECIES: The genus Cuscuta is easily
recognized and quite conspicuous. However, species within the genus are
extremely difficult to identify without critical examination of flowers and
fruits under magnification.
TOTAL RANGE: FL to TX, n. to N.E., IN, MO, and OK.
STATE RANGE: There are post-1960 collections from
Licking and Meigs counties. There are pre-1960 specimens from four other
counties: Auglaize, Hamilton, Jackson, and Trumbull.
STATE STATUS: 1980-1987: Endangered, 1988 to present:
Presumed Extirpated.
HABITAT: Low woods and thickets.
HAZARDS: Members of this genus, although not necessarily
this species, can cause considerable damage to cultivated plants and thus often
are destroyed by farmers. Some of the rarities in Cuscuta may be
destroyed incidentally in the process.
RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown, probably poor.
INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect only fertile material. Attempt
to obtain specimens with both flowers and fruits. Obtain a fertile portion of
the host plant and press it with the Cuscuta. Collect, dry, and store
some flowers and fruits of Cuscuta in a packet, unpressed. This will
prevent the obscuring of critical characters (Austin, 1979).
COMMENTS: The true status of this species in the
Ohio flora is difficult to ascertain accurately. The genus has not been well
collected in the state and species identification is troublesome. The state
range presented above, then, is quite tentative and subject to change.
SELECTED REFERENCES:
Austin, D.F. 1979. Comments on Cuscuta--for
collectors and curators. Bull. Torr.
Bot. Club 106: 227-228.
Yuncker, T.G. 1965. Cuscuta. N. Amer. Fl., ser. 2,
pt. 4: 1-51.
Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Created: 3/1984 Allison W. Cusick, James Burns
Database Code: SPNE.958