Native Plants

Plant Database

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Sturla, Gene

Cuscuta indecora

Cuscuta indecora Choisy

Bigseed Alfalfa Dodder, Largeseed Dodder, Pretty Dodder

Cuscutaceae (Dodder Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CUIN

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N), CAN (N)

This is a leafless, rootless, parasitic vine with twining thread-like yellowish stems. It lives on the juices of the host plant.

From the Image Gallery

49 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb , Vine
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Twining stems up to about 6 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NV , OK , OR , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , WV , WY
Canada: SK

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1260 Collected 2009-01-09 in Brazoria County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cuscuta indecora in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cuscuta indecora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cuscuta indecora

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-08-20
Research By: DEW

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