Cuscuta howelliana
Boggs lake dodder
(c) Hank Raizen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Cuscuta howelliana (Boggs lake dodder) is a native California vine in the Convolvulaceae family, recognized by vernal pool habitat and papillate flowers with acuminate tips diagnostic.
Boggs lake dodder is a California native parasitic perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Great Valley, and Modoc Plateau in margins of vernal pools at elevations of 140 to 1,650 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces small, membranous flowers in dense head-like clusters on its host plant, with cream to white-tinged blossoms approximately 3 to 4.5 millimeters long. Growing as a twining, thread-like parasite without chlorophyll, it attaches to and derives nutrients from host plants through specialized structures. Its flowers feature distinctive triangular-ovate calyx lobes with entire margins and recurved tips, and corolla tubes with densely fringed scales that are about half the length of the tube. The tiny spheric to spheric-depressed fruit contains one to four seeds, each approximately one millimeter wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; vernal pool habitat and papillate flowers with acuminate tips diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Margins of vernal pools generally on
Elevation: 140-1650 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Lake, Sonoma, Butte, Tehama, Sacramento, Yuba, Lassen, Shasta, Placer, Glenn, Yolo, Merced, Amador, Napa
Bloom period
Cuscuta howelliana blooms Aug-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Cassytha: Cassytha has green color visible on close inspection; Cuscuta is pure orange/yellow with no green.; vs Funastrum: Funastrum has leaves and grows from the ground; Cuscuta is leafless and grows on other plants.; vs Eriogonum: Eriogonum grows from soil with visible leaves; Cuscuta wraps around other plants with no leaves.; vs Epilobium: Epilobium has green leaves and stands upright; Cuscuta is leafless orange strings on host plants.; vs Brandegea: Brandegea has tendrils and leaves; Cuscuta has no leaves, just orange thread-like stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cuscuta howelliana native to California?
Yes. Cuscuta howelliana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cuscuta howelliana bloom?
Cuscuta howelliana blooms Aug-Sep.
Where in California does Cuscuta howelliana grow?
Cuscuta howelliana occurs in Siskiyou, Lake, Sonoma, Butte, Tehama, Sacramento, Yuba, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 140-1650 m.
What plant family does Cuscuta howelliana belong to?
Cuscuta howelliana is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Cuscuta.
What habitat does Cuscuta howelliana grow in?
Cuscuta howelliana grows in Margins of vernal pools generally on.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.