Convolvulaceae
Cuscuta

Cuscuta hyalina Roth

First published in J.J.Roemer & J.A.Schultes, Syst. Veg., ed. 15[bis]. 6: 203 (1820)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Cape Verde, Ethiopia to S. Africa, SE. Türkiye, Afghanistan to Indian Subcontinent. It is a holoparasitic annual and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Convolvulaceae, B. Verdcourt (East African Herbarium). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1963

Morphology General Habit
Stems usually very slender, under 0.5 mm. in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers whitish, rather shining, 2.5–3 mm. long and 2.5 mm. broad, in loose umbellate clusters; pedicels about equalling the flowers.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes sharply acute, often exceeding the corolla.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla-lobes narrow and very acute, erect or reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens about 1 mm. long.
Morphology General Scales
Scales not present in any specimens seen from East Africa.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Styles slender, equalling or exceeding the ovary.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule thin, depressed-globular; intrastylar opening small with a longitudinal groove from each end running down the capsule.
Habitat
Parasitic usually on Trianthema and Tribulus in rather dry country; 1000–1500m.
Distribution
K3 T1 U1
[FTEA]

Cuscutaceae, Maria Leonor Gonçalves. Flora Zambesiaca 8:1. 1987

Morphology General Habit
Stems usually very slender, under 0·5 mm. in diam.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences rather loose umbellate clusters.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 2–3·5 mm. long on short pedicels, thin in texture, sometimes 4-merous, shining and yellowish when dry, often glandular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx campanulate-turbinate; lobes triangular-ovate, acuminate often exceeding and enclosing the corolla, erect to reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla campanulate, becoming globular about the developing fruit; lobes narrow and very acute, erect or spreading and reflexed in old flowers, usually longer than the tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens shorter than the corolla lobes; filaments somewhat stout, as long or longer than anthers.
Morphology General Scales
Scales absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary globose, more or less depressed; styles slender, as long as or longer than the ovary, somewhat unequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule depressed-globose, irregularly splitting near the base; intrastylar opening small with a longitudinal groove from each end running down the capsule.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ovoid, about 1·5 m. long.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0