Cuscuta pentagona var. pentagona (Dodder)

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Cuscuta pentagona Engelm. var. pentagona

Dodder, field dodder

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Solanales	Potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, tobacco, petunias, sweet potatoes, morning glories, many others
Family	Convolvulaceae	Bindweed or morning glory family
Genus	Cuscuta	A name of Arabic derivation meaning “dodder”
Species	pentagona	Five-angled
var.	pentagona	Five-angled

About plant names...

Dodder is orange, not green. It doesn't have any apparent leaves, and cannot get energy through photosynthesis. It doesn't need to: instead, it parasitizes other plants. This is one of many species of dodder, and it is native to western North America and many other areas of the world.

Identification: This dodder looks like someone hurled bunches of orange angel hair pasta on top of other plants. It appears as long, tangled fine strings, snaking around the plants from which it draws nutrients. It appears yellow, pinkish yellow, or orange. It lacks roots and leaves because it doesn't need them. Flowers are cream-colored, bell-shaped, inconspicuous, ¹/₁₆" (2 mm) in length. Seeds are tan and roughly spherical.

Online References:

The Interactive Agricultural Ecological Atlas of Russia and Neighboring Countries

The University of Queensland Australia

Convolvulaceae Unlimited

Cabi.org’s Invasive Species Compendium

Wikimedia Commons

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California
≈ 10 × 7" (26 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Dodder is enveloping pickleweed (Sarcocornia pacifica). · 2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California
≈ 5 × 4½" (12 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Cuscuta pentagona

Cuscuta arvensis Bey. ex Engelm.

Cuscuta campestris Yunck.

Cuscuta pentagona Engelm. var. calycina Engelm.

Grammica campestris (Yunck.) Hadac & Chrtek

Grammica pentagona (Engelm.) W.A. Weber

Cuscuta pentagona var. pentagona description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California
≈ 5 × 5" (12 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.9 × 6.4 cm) ID is uncertain

4/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

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