Cuscuta campestris

North American silk ( Cuscuta campestris )

The North American silk ( Cuscuta campestris ) is a species of the genus silk ( Cuscuta ) in the family of wind plants ( Convolvulaceae ).

Description

North American Silk is a 10 to 50 cm tall, annual, parasitic plant. It grows in dense, tangled mats. The stems are striking orange and smooth.

The flowers are in more or less dense tangles and are stalked partly short. The crown is yellowish white. The narrow, triangular tapered throat scales are usually longer than the corolla tube and protrude out of this. The scars are capitate.

Dissemination

The species is native to southeastern North America, but was introduced in South and Central Europe. Also in Germany it occurs regionally.