Cuscuta campestris
Golden dodder
Cuscuta campesestris, commonly known as field dodder, is a parasitic plant characterized by its leafless, yellowish, thread-like stems. Lacking chlorophyll, it survives by extracting nutrients from host plants via specialized structures called haustoria. Beyond its ecological role, it holds significant interest in traditional medicine for its diverse bioactive properties.
- Scientific name: Cuscuta campestris
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales, it is classified under the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cuscuta, specifically as the species Cuscuta campestris.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Convolvulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cuscuta | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cuscuta campesestris, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Arabic, it is referred to as حامول مرجي, while in German, it is called Nordamerikanische Seide. It is known as põldvõrm in Estonian and amerikanvieras in Finnish, and in Hebrew, it is identified as כשות השדות.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | حامول مرجي | Wikidata |
| de | Nordamerikanische Seide | Wikidata |
| et | põldvõrm | Wikidata |
| fi | amerikanvieras | Wikidata |
| he | כשות השדות | Wikidata |
| lt | Dirvinis brantas | Wikidata |
| pl | Kanianka polna | Wikidata |
| sv | Amerikansk grovsnärja | Wikidata |
| zh | 平原菟絲子 | Wikidata |
| cy | Llindag melyn | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Austria. It also maintains a presence in Belgium, further extending its range across the central part of the continent. Finally, its distribution reaches into the region of Czechia-Slovakia, completing this specific geographical pattern.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cuscuta campestris has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ABA, Phytol, astragalin, chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ABA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astragalin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dicaffeoylquinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoquercitrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol-3-O-galactoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cuscuta campestris has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, atopic dermatitis, cancer, cognitive dysfunction.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Obsessive-compulsive disorder | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atopic dermatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive dysfunction | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |