CUSCUTA EPITHYMUM subsp. EPITHYMUM

Family and Genus:- See- CONVOLVULACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cuscuta (L) A name used by the botanist Rufinus for dodder, from

Arabic keckout.

Epithymum (Gr) Upon thyme. (parasitic).

General description:- Scrambling and entwining parasitic plant.

Stems:-

1) Slender, filiform, much-branched, often reddish or purplish.

Leaves:-

1) Reduced to tiny scales, without chlorophyll.

Flowers:-

1) 3-4(-5) mm (rarely 2·5 mm);, 5-merous, mostly sessile, sometimes shortly

pedicellate; glomerules 7-10 mm in diam, dense, globose, each with a

subacute bract at its base.

2) Calyx, shorter than the corolla-tube, not fleshy.

a) lobes triangular, acute, sometimes lanceolate and acuminate.

3) Corolla-lobes, acute or acuminate to subulate, mostly shorter than the

campanulate tube.

4) Stamens, exserted; anthers often purple-tinged.

5) Scales, spathulate, shorter than the tube, fimbriate, connivent over the ovary.

6) Styles (including stigmas) much longer than ovary.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, enveloped by the corolla.

2) Seeds, c. 1 mm.

Key features:-

1) Lobes of the calyx, and corolla, acute to acuminate.

2) Flowers, sessile or shortly pedicellate.

3) Styles, (including stigmas) much longer than the ovary.

4) Calyx, fleshy, reddish.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Parasitic on a wide variety of dwarf shrubs and herbs. 0-1800(-2400) m.

Distribution:- Fairly widespread and common across the Mediterranean.

sporadically scattered across Crete.

Flowering time:- (Apr-)May-Aug.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton