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Cuscuta salina (Saltmarsh dodder)
Copyright © 20056 Mary Jo Adams
Because of its unique appearance, salt marsh dodder is easy to identify. Lacking leaves and chlorophyll, this species looks like yellow or orange dental floss entwined around pickleweed (Salicornia virginica) and other salt marsh plants which serve as its parasitic hosts. Dodder does produce flowers and seeds. It flowers in this area from June until August. When the seeds germinate, the sprouts must seek and find a host plant within a few days or will die. This species is native to the Pacific Northwest. Another common name for it is alkali dodder. Some scientists place dodder in the morning glory family, others separate it off into its own family.
This
page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 8/22/06.
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