Scientific Name: Cuscuta campestris Yunckers

Synonym: Cuscuta australis auct non R. Br., F.M. Bailey

Common name:Dodder, Golden dodder.

Family: Convolvulaceae

Origin:

Native of Australia.

Habit:

Plants are leafless, twining, parasitic herbs with yellow stems. Dodder is usually annual, however it can survive winter if attached to a perennial host.

Habitat:

Although native to Australia, dodder is considered a common widespread weed growing in a wide range of environmental conditions. A serious pest of lucerne.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are golden yellow, thread-like with small suckers which are used to penetrate the hosts stems or leaves. There are no leaves.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers are cream to white, bell-shaped 2-2.5 mm long. Calyx and corolla have 5 lobes. Flowers are borne in dense clusters. Fruits are globular capsules 3-4 mm in diameter containing up to 4 seeds. The seeds are tan-coloured, more or less globular but with a flattened side, the surface is granular. Flowering occurs in spring.

Distinguishing characteristics:

A parasitic plant, dodder is a yellow, leafless, twiner with thread-like stems.

Noxious status:

Noxious in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. (1992). Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Anonymous. (1994). Queensland Vacsular Plants: Names and Distribution. Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane.