Flowers: clusters loose to dense. Calyces 1–2 mm, shorter than corolla tube, divided 1/3–1/2 length, lobes triangular-ovate, bases overlapping, apex acute. 2n = 30.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Nov.
Habitat: Hosts: Acacia, Agalinis, Anulo­caulis, Artemisia, Asclepias, Baccharis, Borrichia, Cheno­podium, Clematis, Convolvulus, Eupatorium, Grindelia, Helenium, Helianthus, Heterotheca, Hypericum, Ipo­moea, Kosteletzkya, Lactuca, Lepidium, Ligustrum, Malvastrum, Medicago, Mimosa, Myrica, Parthenium, Pithecellobium, Pluchea, Polygonum, Rhynchosia, Salsola, Solidago, Suaeda, Symphyotrichum, Tecoma, Tephrosia, Vernonia, and others.
Elevation: 0–1900 m.

Distribution

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Sask., Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.J., N.Mex., N.C., N.Dak., Okla., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va., Wash., W.Va., Wyo., Mexico, West Indies, South America.

Discussion

Variety bifida was noted by T. G. Yuncker (1965) to occur infrequently throughout the range of var. indecora. It is found that the infrastaminal scales of var. bifida are not truly bifid; they are spatulate with two or three, sometimes four, deeper apical incisions that create two or three, sometimes four lobes that are further fimbriate. So-called normal scales may occur in the same flower together with lobed ones. Such plants are regarded as populational variants of var. indecora. Bifid scales are characteristic of C. coryli, not C. indecora (M. Costea et al. 2006).

Variety indecora is the second most common and widespread taxon of the genus in the flora area, after Cuscuta campestris. It is a particularly troublesome weed in alfalfa and currently continues to spread through contaminated seeds worldwide.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.