Cuscuta epithymum
Tracheophyta
›Magnoliopsida›Cuscutaceae›Cuscuta›Cuscuta epithymum
Ecology
An annual, rarely perennial, rootless twining herb, parasitic on the stems of a wide variety of small shrubs and herbs (most frequently Calluna vulgaris, Thymus polytrichus, Ulex gallii and U. minor) on heathland, chalk downland and fixed dune grasslands. It is also casual on field crops and in arable field-borders at the northern and western extent of its range. Lowland.
Status
Native
Trends
The loss of lowland heath, ploughing of chalk downlands, and an increase in scrub have caused a decline in this species since 1930. Whilst it is still locally abundant, the map suggests a continuing substantial decline.
World Distribution
Eurosiberian Southern-temperate element; widely naturalised outside its native range.
© P. Shannon
Mortehoe, vc4
© P. Shannon
Mortehoe, vc4
© P. Shannon
Mortehoe, vc4
© P. Shannon
Mortehoe, vc4
© P. Shannon
Mortehoe, vc4
© P. Shannon
Broad Habitats
Dwarf shrub heath (cover of dwarf shrubs at least 25%)
Light (Ellenberg): 7
Moisture (Ellenberg): 6
Reaction (Ellenberg): 2
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 2
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 4.3
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 15.9
Annual Precipitation (mm): 846
Height (cm): 1
Perennation - primary
Annual
Life Form - primary
Therophyte (annual land plant)
Woodiness
Herbaceous
Clonality - primary
Far-creeping by stolons in illuminated medium
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 494
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 27
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 12
Atlas Change Index: -1.28
JNCC Designations
NBNSYS0000004030
Comment on Clonality