Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. subsp. epithymum

Taxonomy: Fam. Convolvulaceae// Genus: Cuscuta// Species: Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L.// Subspecies: Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. subsp. epithymum.

Determined according to the botanical key provided in The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia (Matevski, 2010).

Lifeform: Annual, Therophyte according to the Raunkiær system; Parasite.

Distribution: Native from Europe to West Siberia, Xinjiang (China) and Iran; North Africa according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic gardens, Kew).

Hosts: Found on Genista sp. (Fabaceae) as host. This species parasites on members of the Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Geraniaceae, Cistaceae, Apiaceae, Rubiaceae, Thymelaceae and otherplant families (Matevski, 2010).

Flowering period: Summer: JUN, JUL, AUG.

Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – habit. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – stems and inflorescences. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – stems and inflorescences. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – stems and inflorescences. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – stems and inflorescences. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – stems and inflorescences. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – inflorescence. Scale in mm. Specimen from Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – inflorescence. Scale in mm. Specimen from Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – ovary and styles with stigma. The styles are longer than the ovary. Scale in mm. Specimen from Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum – calyx. Scale in mm. Specimen from Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River, 26.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum. Plants of the World Online portal, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77173435-1 [Accessed 27.06.2022].

Matevski, V. (2010). The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia Vol. II, Book 1. Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

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