Cuscuta californica var. apiculata

Chaparral dodder

Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 3

Chaparral dodder is a California native parasitic plant found in the eastern Colorado River desert region at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces small, delicate flowers with distinctive pointed ovaries and very short filaments. Growing as a thin, thread-like vine that parasitizes other herbs, it lacks chlorophyll and appears as a tangled yellow or orange network draped over host plants. Its flowers are compact, with perianth structures that are smooth and not raised or papillate. The seeds are ovoid-conic with a pointed tip, characteristic of its distinctive parasitic growth habit.

Habitat: On herbs

Bloom period: Mar-Sep

Elevation: generally < 500 m

Bioregions: e DSon (near Colorado River)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.