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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Cuscuta epithymum is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

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.
Urinary

Lesser dodder is considered to be a valuable though little used herbal remedy that supports the liver, being used for problems affecting the liver and gallbladder[254]. The whole plant is antibilious, appetizer, carminative, cholagogue, mildly diuretic, hepatic, laxative and antiscorbutic[4, 218]. A decoction of the stems is used in the treatment of urinary complaints, kidney, spleen and liver disorders, jaundice, sciatica and scorbutic complaints[4]. It also has a reputation as an anticancer agent and as a specific for gout[218]. The plant should not be used by anyone suffering from haemorrhoids[7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host[238]. A climbing plant, it must be grown close to a host plant around which it will twine itself and which it will penetrate with suckers in order to obtain nutriment[238, 245]. The flowers emit a remarkably sweet perfume that is especially pronounced towards evening[245].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

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

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Alfalfa dodder; clover dodder; common dodder. Spanish: cuscuta del trebol; epitimo. French: cuscute du thym; cuscute du thyme; cuscute du trefle. Portuguese: cabelos. Belgium: klaverwarkruid. Denmark: klover-silke. Finland: apilanvieras. Germany: Klee- Seide; Ouendel-Seide; Thymian-Seide. Italy: cuscuta del trifoglio; cuscuta piccola. Netherlands: duivelsnaaigaren; klein Warkruid. New Zealand: devil's gut. South Africa: klein dodder; lesser dodder. Sweden: kloeversnaerja.

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Found In

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

Native to Europe, West Asia and northern Africa, an introduced species in North America, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

A noxious weed in 13 U.S. States. Not proved to be a highly invasive species, but there are very significant risks of accidental introduction with contaminated crop seed.

Conservation Status

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

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Cuscuta chinensis	Chinese Dodder	Perennial	0.0	-	LMH	SN	M	0	3
Cuscuta europaea	Greater dodder	Annual	0.0	0-0	LMH	SN	M	0	2	0
Cuscuta japonica	Japanese Dodder	Annual Climber	1.0	5-9	LMH	SN	M	1	2	0
Cuscuta megalocarpa	Bigfruit Dodder	Perennial	0.0	-	LMH	SN	M	1	0
Cuscuta reflexa	Dodder, Giant dodder	Perennial	0.0	0-0	LMH	SN	M	0	2	0
Cuscuta umbellata	Flatglobe dodder		0.0	0-0	LMH	SN	M	1	0	0

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.

Cuscuta epithymum - (L.)L.