Cuscuta tasmanica

Common name: 

Golden Dodder

Family: 

Convolvulaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Murray Mallee, Wimmera, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Wilsons Promontory, East Gippsland (ACDEGJKNTVWXZ) also WA, SA, NSW, Tas

Map - Australia's Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Common only on the Isthmus in saline wetlands1

Flower description:

Greenish white or cream2

Habit:

Twining, parasitic herb2

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

This species is distinguished from the introduced C. suaveolens by its thin stems and the lobes of the corolla being blunt at the apex (not short, pointed lobes as in C. suaveolens). It is distinguished from the Dodder-laurels (Cassytha spp.) by its large, tubular flowers1,2

Images:
Image of Cuscuta tasmanica
Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia

Links to description of this species:

Threatened Species Link

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

1 Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.
2 Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria