Cuscuta cuspidata

Stems pale yellow, medium. Inflorescences loose, paniculi­form; bracts at bases of clusters and pedicels, and on pedicels, 2–4, ovate-orbiculate to ovate-triangular, membranous, mar­gins ± irregularly serrulate, apex obtuse or acute to bluntly cuspi­date. Pedicels 2–5 mm. Flowers 5-merous, 3.5–4.2 mm, membranous, not papillate; calyx creamy yellow, campanulate, 1/2 corolla tube length, divided to base or nearly so, finely reticulate, shiny, lobes ovate, bases overlapping, margins finely serrulate, midvein not carinate, apex acute to cuspidate; corolla white, drying creamy white, 3.3–4 mm, tube cylindric-campanulate, 2.2–3 mm, not saccate, lobes reflexed, ovate-oblong to ovate-triangular, 1/3–1/2 corolla tube length, margins entire, apex cuspidate-acute to obtuse, straight; infrastaminal scales oblong, rounded, 2–2.7 mm, 3/4–4/5 corolla tube length, bridged at 1–1.4 mm, ± uniformly densely fimbriate, fimbriae 0.3–0.6 mm; stamens exserted, slightly shorter than corolla lobes; filaments 0.6–0.9 mm; anthers 0.6–0.8 × 0.4–0.5 mm; styles filiform, 2–2.6 mm, longer than ovary. Capsules globose to depressed-globose, 2.5–3 × 2.8–3.2 mm, with thickened and raised ridge or collar around relatively small interstylar aperture, translucent, capped by withered corolla, indehiscent. Seeds 2–4, angled, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, 1.1–1.4 × 1–1.1 mm, hilum region ± terminal. 2n = 30.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Oct.
Habitat: prairies, sandy places, sometimes ruderal.
Elevation: 50–1500 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ark., Colo., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.Mex., N.Dak., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Utah.

Discussion

Reports of Cuscuta cuspidata from Connecticut and Wisconsin have not been verified.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.