We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Cuscuta reflexa - Roxb.

Common Name Dodder, Giant dodder
Family Convolvulaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Parasitic on Desmodium spp, Rubus spp and Viburnum spp at 1700 - 2900 metres in Kashmir[145]. It is also found on Zizyphus jujube and Vitex negundo and has been known to kill these plants[146].
Range E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to China.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Cuscuta reflexa Dodder, Giant dodder


Cuscuta reflexa Dodder, Giant dodder

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 
Cuscuta reflexa is a PERENNIAL. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Alterative  Anthelmintic  Carminative  Purgative

The seeds are alterative, anthelmintic and carminative[240, 243]. They are used in the treatment of bilious disorders[240]. The stems are used in the treatment of bilious disorders[243]. The whole plant is purgative[240, 243]. It is used internally in treating protracted fevers and externally in the treatment of body pains and itchy skin[240, 243, 272]. The plant is employed in Ayurvedic medicine to treat difficulty in urinating, jaundice, muscle pain and coughs[254]. The juice of the plant, mixed with the juice of Saccharum officinarum, is used in the treatment of jaundice[272]. The analysis of the plant differs according to the host it is growing on[240]. The report does not say if this makes a difference to its medicinal properties[K].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have virtually no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. One report says that it needs cold greenhouse treatment in this country[1] but some provenances from the higher parts of its range could succeed outdoors. This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host[238]. It must be grown next to the host plant, which it penetrates with suckers in order to obtain nutriment[238].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, by lodging it among the stems of a host plant that is being grown in a pot in the greenhouse[238].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Dodder, giant dodder, French: cuscute; cuscute grosse.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Afghanistan, Asia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Can be weedy or invasive. Cuscuta species are quarantine pests in many countries. Capable of serious crop damage. A 'principal' or 'serious' weed in Afghanistan, Nepal, India and Pakistan

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cuscuta chinensisChinese DodderPerennial0.0 -  LMHSNM03 
Cuscuta epithymumLesser DodderAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHSNM020
Cuscuta europaeaGreater dodderAnnual0.0 0-0  LMHSNM020
Cuscuta japonicaJapanese DodderAnnual Climber1.0 5-9  LMHSNM120
Cuscuta megalocarpaBigfruit DodderPerennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Cuscuta umbellataFlatglobe dodder 0.0 0-0  LMHSNM100

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Roxb.

Botanical References

1266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

sarah   Sat Sep 20 2008

GC-MS of n-hexane extract of cuscuta reflexa... i need experimental methods for this.. 1.injection temperature 2.column temperature programme 3. 4.pressure/linear velocity 5.ion source temperature

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Cuscuta reflexa  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.