Flatglobe dodder
Cuscuta umbellata
Family: Convolvulaceae
What it is like
Cuscuta umbellata is a . The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0
Where it is found
Parasitic on Polygala spp, Atriplex spp, Suaeda spp, Alternanthera spp, Amaranthus spp and Euphorbia spp in N. Arizona.
Southern N. America.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.
Countries/locations it is found in
Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, North America, South America, Suriname, USA.
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Seed. Parched and ground into a meal.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 0
How it is grown
We have virtually no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host. It must be grown next to the host plant, which it penetrates with suckers in order to obtain nutriment.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, by lodging it among the stems of a host plant that is being grown in a pot in the greenhouse.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit:
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Can be weedy or invasive. Cuscuta species are quarantine pests in many countries.
Its other names
Local names
Dodder, flatglobe dodder