Cuscuta japonica
Japanese dodder
(c) Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Vine
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Cuscuta japonica (Japanese dodder) is a California vine in the Convolvulaceae family.
I apologize, but I cannot generate a complete description for this plant because critical botanical details are missing from the provided data. To create an accurate, detailed description following the specified rules, I would need the following specific information: - Native status - Bioregional distributions - Elevation range - Habitat details - Flowering time - Jepson description (stem, leaf, flower characteristics) Without these key pieces of information, I cannot construct a description that meets the guidelines of providing precise, factual botanical details about the Japanese dodder (Cuscuta japonica). If you can provide the missing botanical data, I would be happy to generate a description following the established rules and format.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Differentiators are not available at this time.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
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
What plant family does Cuscuta japonica belong to?
Cuscuta japonica is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Cuscuta.
Is Cuscuta japonica invasive in California?
Cuscuta japonica is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.