Cassytha
Cassytha filiformis
Cassytha, German also called catch thread, is a genus of flowering plants of the laurel family ( Lauraceae ). In the large family of Lauraceae there is no other genus of parasitic plants. This genus includes about 17 species of parasitic vines. They parasitize on woody or herbaceous plants. Its main distribution area is located in Australia, although a few species in Africa, America and Japan occur.
Description
Cassytha is a semi- parasite. From habit it resembles Cuscuta ( Convolvulaceae ), which is back out on a convergent development. Unlike Cassytha but Cuscuta is a full parasite.
It is an evergreen, perennial herbaceous plant. The stem has different colors depending on the season and contains chlorophyll. The spirally arranged leaves are reduced to tiny scales. Essential oils give the whole plant an aromatic odor.
The inflorescences are constructed differently. The hermaphrodite, radial symmetry, small flowers are triple. Three sepals present which are smaller than the petals. The three petals are white to off-white. There are four circles, each with three stamens; where usually three circles of fertile stamens exist. The ovary is upper constant. The stone fruits are blackish or red.
Types (selection) and distribution
The genus includes about 17 species Cassytha:
- Cassytha aurea - Australia
- Cassytha candida - Australia
- Cassytha capillaris - Australia
- Cassytha ciliolata - South Africa
- Cassytha glabella R.Br. - Australia
- Cassytha flava - Australia
- Cassytha glabella - Australia and Japan ( Okinawa )
- Cassytha filiformis L. - Hawaii, South and Central America, Florida, Japan ( Okinawa ), Africa
- Cassytha Melantha R.Br. - Australia
- Cassytha micrantha - Australia
- Cassytha nodiflora - Australia
- Cassytha paniculata - Northernmost part of Northland, New Zealand
- Cassytha pomiformis - Australia
- Cassytha pubescens R.Br. - Australia and Japan ( Okinawa )
- Cassytha racemosa Nees - Eastern Australia
The under the name Cassytha Mill ( 1768) described the genus does not include the circumscribed here Cassytha, but is synonymous with the cactus genus rhipsalis.