Cuscuta salina Engelm.
Family: Convolvulaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

salt-marsh dodder

Primary Disseminule Type

seed

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a single-seeded, one-chambered capsule, elliptic-ovoid, (1.6)2–3.6 mm long x 1.4–2.2 mm diameter, with dried perianth parts still attached (± enclosed by corolla).

Seed round to barely reniform or comma-shaped in outline, somewhat dorsiventrally compressed so that there is a bulge on one side of the seed and a large dimple on the opposite side, deeply notched along margin where hilum occurs, (1)1.35–1.6 mm long x (0.9)1.25–1.43 mm wide x 0.7–1 mm thick. Surface dull (sparkly under magnification), rough (variously honeycombed or pitted), typically pale yellow to light brown.

Hilar region a distinct marginal notch, the small vascular scar difficult to discern.

Similar Species

Similar Species Comparison Chart

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI