Cuscuta gronovii

Stems yellow to orange, medium to coarse. Inflorescences loose or dense, paniculiform, some­times originating endogenously; bracts at base of clusters 1, at base of pedicels 0 or 1, rarely 1 or 2(or 3) on pedicels, ovate to broadly triangular, membra­nous, margins entire or serru­late, apex acute to obtuse. Pedicels 1–4.5 mm. Flowers (4 or)5-merous, 2–4 mm, membranous, not papillate; calyx yellow-brown, cupulate or campanulate to nar­rowly campanulate, 1/2 to equaling corolla tube length, divided 1/2–2/3 its length, not reticulate or shiny, lobes ovate to suborbiculate or oblong, bases barely to notably over­lapping, margins entire to serrulate, midvein not cari­nate, apex rounded or obtuse; corolla white fresh or dry, 1.8–4 mm, tube broadly to narrowly campanulate, 1–2.5(–3) mm, not saccate, lobes spreading to reflexed, mostly ovate, (1/4–)1/3 or 1/2 to equaling corolla tube length, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse, straight; infrastaminal scales oblong, 1–2.5 mm, equaling corolla tube length, bridged at 0.4–0.8 mm, sparsely fimbriate, fimbriae 0.4–0.8 mm; stamens exserted, shorter than to equaling corolla lobes; filaments 0.4–0.7(–1) mm; anthers 0.3–0.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm; styles usually filiform, sometimes slightly subulate, (0.6–)1.2–2.2 mm, shorter than to equaling ovary. Capsules ovoid to conic-globose or subobpyriform, 2.5–4.5(–5.2) × 2–4(–5) mm, raised and ± thickened around relatively small to moderately large interstylar aperture, rarely apically narrowed into neck to 1 mm, not translucent, loosely surrounded or capped by withered corolla, indehiscent. Seeds 2–4, obcompressed to obscurely angled, subglobose to broadly ovoid, 1.3–1.7(–2.2) × 1.2–1.6 mm, hilum region subterminal.

Distribution

North America, West Indies, introduced in Europe.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cuscuta gronovii var. calyptrata, Cuscuta gronovii var. gronovii, Cuscuta gronovii var. latiflora

Key

1	Calyces equaling corolla tube length, lobes oblong to ovate, bases barely overlapping; corolla tube broadly campanulate, 1–1.5 mm, lobes 1/2 to equaling tube length.	Cuscuta gronovii var. latiflora
1	Calyces 1/2 corolla tube length, lobes ovate to suborbiculate, bases overlapping; corolla tube campanulate to narrowly campanulate, 1.5–2.5(–3) mm, lobes (1/4–)1/3 tube length.	> 2
2	Corolla tube campanulate, 1.5–2.5 mm; cap­sules loosely surrounded by withered corolla.	Cuscuta gronovii var. gronovii
2	Corolla tube narrowly campanulate, 2–2.5(–3) mm; capsules capped by withered corolla.	Cuscuta gronovii var. calyptrata