Cuscuta approximata

Nomenclature

Accepted name/Authority/Place of publication: 

Cuscuta approximata Bab., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 13: 253. 1844.

Synonyms: 

Cuscuta approximata Bab. var. urceolata (Kuntze) Yunck.

C. planiflora Tenore var. approximata (Bab.) Engelm.

C. urceolata Kuntze

Description

Habit: 
Stems filiform, less than 1 mm in diam.
Inflorescences: 
Inflorescences lateral, compact glomerules, few to many flowered.
Flowers: 
Flowers sessile. Calyx cupular, 2–2.5 mm; sepals overlapping, broadly rhomboid, thickened abaxially, sometimes aureate. Corolla white to pink, campanulate, 2–2.5 mm; lobes triangular-ovate, shorter than tube. Stamens inserted at throat, shorter than corolla lobes; anthers ovate-circular, ca. as long as or shorter than filaments; scales oblong, not reaching base of filaments or ca. as long as corolla tube, apex obtuse or 2-cleft, fimbrillate. Ovary nearly globose; style ca. as long as or shorter than filiform stigmas.
Fruits: 
Capsule enclosed by withered corolla, nearly globose, circumscissile.
Seeds: 
Seeds ovoid, ca. 1 mm.
Author: 
Fang R.C.
References: 

Fang R.C., L. J. Musselman, & U. Plitmann 1995. Cuscuta In P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 322–325. 

Cytology

Chromosome number: 
14
28
Author: 
Fang R.C.
References: 

Fang R.C., L. J. Musselman, & U. Plitmann 1995. Cuscuta In P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 322–325. 

Biogeography, Ecology and Natural History

Distribution: 

China (Xinjiang), N Africa, SW Asia, S Europe.

Ecology: 

Wasteland, mountain
slopes, on Medicago, and other plants
including Artemisia. 

Author: 
Fang R.C.
References: 

Fang R.C., L. J. Musselman, & U. Plitmann 1995. Cuscuta In P. Raven & C.Y. Wu (eds.) Flora of China 16: 322–325. 

Other information

Common names and uses: 
bei hua tu si zi (Chinese).
General comments: 

The Chinese specimens identified as this taxon require further study. Possibly two or three species are combined in taxonomic concept followed here; one of them might be Cuscuta cupulata Engelm. Elsewhere in the world (e.g., outside China) Cuscuta approximata is known to be strictly parasitic on Medicago.

Authorship for webpage

Editor: 
George Staples, Esmond Er
Contributors: 
Classification: 
Cuscuta approximata
Thu, 2011-09-22 09:32 -- Esmond
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