Cuscuta pedicellata
Cuscuta pedicellata, commonly known as Dodder, is a parasitic plant characterized by its leafless, thread-like stems. Lacking chlorophyll, it survives by extracting nutrients from host plants via specialized organs called haustoria. Beyond its unique biology, this species holds significant interest in ethnobotany for its diverse traditional medicinal applications.
- Scientific name: Cuscuta pedicellata
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Solanales and the family Convolvulaceae. Within this hierarchy, it is identified by the genus Cuscuta and the specific species name pedicellata.
| 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 pedicellata, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is frequently called dodder, while in Hindi, it is known as amari. Additionally, it is referred to as amari in Bengali and as amari in Marathi.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several continents and diverse regions. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented within the borders of Germany. Moving toward the southeast, it can be found in the European portion of Türkiye. The species also extends into Eastern Europe, specifically occupying areas of South European Russia. Finally, its range reaches into Northern Africa, where it is located in both Algeria and Egypt.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Türkiye-in-Europe | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | South European Russia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| Siberia | West Siberia | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cuscuta pedicellata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoid, flavonol.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cuscuta pedicellata has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |