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Cuscuta campestris Yunck.
Golden dodder

Reference
Mem.Torrey Bot.Club 18:138 (1932)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Parasitic, twining annual, herb or climber. Fl. white, Feb to Apr. Coastal heath and shrubland, river flats, disturbed areas.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 26 May 2008
Image

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Central Ranges, Dampierland, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Victoria Bonaparte, Warren.
IBRA Subregions
Keep, Mann-Musgrave Block, Perth, Pindanland, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
IMCRA Regions
WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Denmark, Manjimup, Ngaanyatjarraku, Perth, Wyndham-East Kimberley.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

General Biology. Growth form. Vine. Life form. Annual. Reproduction. Dispersed by wind, water, animals, and machinery and planting material contaminated by dodder seeds. Seed production is prolific with up to 1,600 seeds per plant. Seedbank persistence. Up to 50 years.

Notes. Annual, leafless, parasitic plant. Yellow, thread-like stems (up to 0.8 mm) that twine around its host plant. It lacks normal roots and leaves but does bear flowers and fruits. Seeds are viable and germinate readily but can only survive the seedling stage if they get a host immediately after germination..

Additional information. Origin. Native to North America and parts of the Caribbean. Similar exotic species. Cuscuta pentagona and Cuscuta tasmanica.

Suggested method of management and control. All host and dodder plant material must be burnt, preferably on the infested site. Cut the host plant as close as possible to ground level and burn it. Burning can be carried out after cutting and drying. Burning is more effective following the application of a desiccant herbicide. Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg (Stinger™) Rate: 2 g in 100 L of water Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

Management Calendar

Calendar Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Comments
Flowering Y Y Y Y         Y Y Y Y  
Fruiting Y Y Y Y Y         Y Y Y  
Germination Y Y Y           Y Y Y Y  
Optimum Treatment Y Y Y               Y Y  

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References