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Dodder

Cuscuta spp.

Dodder Locations in North America
Dodder Locations in Southeast US
dodder with seeds

dodder along bank
dodder harvested

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Dodder?

Physical Characteristics

Flowers:

  • Numerous
  • White, pong or yellowish in color
  • Small
  • 0.08-0.16 inches long
  • Can be borne in tight balls or in a loose cluster

Fruit:

  • About 1/8th inch in diameter
  • Papery thin walls

Seeds:

  • 1-4 seeds per fruit
  • Yellow to brown/black in color
  • Rough surface
  • One round & two flat sides
  • Seeds grow if host is present
  • If no host present, seeds remain dormant for up to 5 years

Stem:

  • Twining
  • Yellow, orange or green in color
  • Sometimes tinged with purple or red
  • Thin
  • Thread-like
  • Relatively stout
  • Grow upward until it reaches its host
  • Coils around the stem of the host
  • If food source is present, secondary root-like branches form
  • Once root-like branches form, the base shrivels, so there is no soil connection

Other names include love vine, strangleweed, devil’s-guts, goldthread, pull-down, devil’s-ringlet, hellbine, devil’s-hair, and hailweed.

Where Does it Grow?

Dodder it can be found growing on other plants.

Is it Invasive?

Although some species of dodder are native, it can be a very aggressive invader. Dodder grows as a parasite on various kinds of wild and cultivated plants, and is especially destructive to alfalfa, lespedeza, flax, clover and potatoes.

Pros and Cons of Dodder

Dodder is a parasitic plant, and the seeds are difficult to remove from desired crop seed.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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