Cuscuta monogyna
Cuscuta monogyna, commonly known as dodder, is a distinctive parasitic plant characterized by its leafless, thread-like stems. Lacking chlorophyll, it survives by extracting nutrients from host plants via specialized structures called haustoria. While often viewed as a weed, it holds significant interest in ecological studies and traditional medicinal research.
- Scientific name: Cuscuta monogyna
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Solanales and the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cuscuta, specifically as the species Cuscuta monogyna.
| 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 monogyna, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Arabic, it is called حامول أحادي المدقة, while in the Egyptian Arabic dialect, it is known as حامول احادى المدقه. In Chinese, the species is identified as 单柱菟丝子, and in Armenian, it is called Գաղձ միասռնականի. Additionally, in Hebrew, it is commonly referred to as כשות גס.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | حامول أحادي المدقة | Wikidata |
| zh | 单柱菟丝子 | Wikidata |
| hy | Գաղձ միասռնականի | Wikidata |
| arz | حامول احادى المدقه | Wikidata |
| he | כשות גס | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 单柱菟丝子 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 單柱菟絲子 | Wikidata |
| ar | حامول الكرمه | Wikidata |
| ar | حامول الكرمة | Wikidata |
| ar | حامول احادي المدقة | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions within Southern and Southeastern Europe. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing throughout France, Portugal, and Spain. Its range also extends into Southeastern Europe, where it is established in Bulgaria. Additionally, the species is widely distributed across the landscapes of Greece. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various Mediterranean climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Romania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Türkiye-in-Europe | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | NW. Balkan Pen. | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | Krym | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cuscuta monogyna has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include astragalin, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside, kaempferol-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| astragalin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol-3-O-galactoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin-3-O-galactoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin-3-O-glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |