Cuscuta tasmanica

Common Name:

Golden Dodder

Family:

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 - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

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

Common only on the Isthmus in saline wetlands ¹

Flower Description:

Greenish white or cream ²

Habit:

Twining, parasitic herb ²

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 flowers ^1,2

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

Threatened Species Link VicFlora

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