About Common Dodder
Cuscuta reflexa, the giant dodder or ulan ulan, is one of about 220 species in genus Cuscuta, in the family Convolvulaceae. It is common in the Indian subcontinent and the Greater Himalayas and as far south as Malaysia and Indonesia. This parasitic plant species is a leafless twined sprawling thin vine that grows over a host plant, including large trees. It will make garlands hanging down from tree canopies as long as 10 metres (33 ft). The flowers are small, bell shaped and white with yellow filaments.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Cuscuta reflexa
- Genus
- Cuscuta
- Family
- CUSCUTACEAE
- Habit
- Parasite
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, also in the plains Key identification features : Leafless twining
- Distribution
- Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Siam, Malesia, China
- Flowering & fruiting
- October-April
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Local Names
- Hindi
- अमर बेल Amar bel, आकाश बेल Akashbel, Amarabela
- Nepali
- आकाशबेली
- Bengali
- Swarna lata, Akashbel, স্বর্নলতা
- Tamil
- Kodiyagundal, Verillakothan, கொடியார் கூந்தல்
- Telugu
- Sitamma pogunalu
- Malayalam
- Akasavalli, Moodillathali, ആകാശവല്ലി
- Marathi
- निर्मली Nirmali, अमरवेल
Cuscutaceae
Dodder or Devil’s gut Family
Common Dodder belongs to the Cuscutaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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