Cuscuta europaea
Cuscuta europea
Cuscuta europaea, commonly known as European dodder, is a parasitic plant characterized by its leafless, thread-like stems. While often viewed as a weed that depletes host nutrients, it holds significant ethnobotanical interest. Researchers explore its unique biochemical properties and secondary metabolites for potential therapeutic applications in traditional medicinal practices.
- Scientific name: Cuscuta europaea
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Cuscuta europaea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Solanales and the family Convolvulaceae. It is ultimately classified under the genus Cuscuta.
| 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, known scientifically as Cuscuta europea, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In English, it is referred to as Cuscuta europea, while in French, it is called Cuscute d'Europe. Moving through Central and Eastern Europe, it is known as Kanianka pospolitą in Polish and повилика европейская in Russian. Additionally, in the Low German dialect, it carries the descriptive name Groot duvelsneigaoren.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Kanianka pospolita | Wikidata |
| ru | повилика европейская | Wikidata |
| fr | Cuscute d'Europe | Wikidata |
| en | Cuscuta europea | Wikidata |
| nds-nl | Groot duvelsneigaoren | Wikidata |
| fi | euroopanvieras | Wikidata |
| lv | Eiropas vija | Wikidata |
| et | harilik võrm | Wikidata |
| de | Nessel-Seide | Wikidata |
| sq | Kuskuta evropiane | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Cuscuta europaea, exhibits a specific distribution across several northern regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the vast landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species inhabits various habitats across Great Britain. Finally, the plant's range extends to the territories of Norway and Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cuscuta europaea has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include chlorogenic acid, kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside, kaempferol-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol-3-O-galactoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin-3-O-galactoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |