Cuscuta pacifica

Stems orange, slender. Inflo­rescences dense, umbelliform to subglomerulate; bracts at base of clusters 1, at base of pedicels 0 or 1, ovate to lanceolate, membranous, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm, sometimes with domelike cells. Flowers 5-merous, 3.5–6 mm, membranous, papillate or corolla lobes, sometimes calyx, with domelike cells; calyx creamy yellow, usually drying dull brown, rarely drying yellow, campanulate to cupulate, equaling corolla tube length, divided 2/3 its length, not reticulate or shiny, lobes ovate-triangular, bases slightly overlapping, margins entire, midvein not carinate, apex acute to acuminate; corolla white, generally drying dark brown (rarely creamy yellow), 2.8–5.4 mm, tube campanulate, 1.5–2.6 mm, not saccate, lobes erect to spreading, broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate, equaling corolla tube length, bases overlapping, margins entire or irregular, apex usually acute to cuspidate, sometimes appearing tridentate, straight; infrastaminal scales oblong to slightly obovate, 1–1.5 mm, 1/2–3/4 corolla tube length, bridged at 0.3–0.5 mm, with few short fimbriae 0.05–0.1 mm; stamens included in completely open flower, shorter than corolla lobes; filaments 0.3–0.6 mm; anthers 0.3–0.6 × 0.3–0.5 mm; styles filiform, 0.4–0.9 mm, shorter than ovary. Capsules ovoid, 2–3.6 × 1.4–2.1 mm, thickened around relatively small inter­stylar aperture, not translucent, surrounded by withered corolla, indehiscent. Seeds 1 or 2, ± obcompressed, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, 1.4–1.9 × 1.2–1.4 mm, hilum subterminal.

Distribution

w North America, nw Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Cuscuta pacifica was segregated from C. salina based on their different morphology, reproductive biology, host range, geographical distribution, and ecology (M. Costea et al. 2009).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cuscuta pacifica var. pacifica, Cuscuta pacifica var. papillata

Key

1	Pedicels not papillate; calyces not papillate.	Cuscuta pacifica var. pacifica
1	Pedicels papillate; calyces papillate.	Cuscuta pacifica var. papillata