The Cuscutaceae family includes herbaceous plants that parasitise the above-ground parts of hosts and are found in temperate and tropical regions of the world, with the greatest species richness in subtropical and tropical regions; the genus is rare in cool temperate climates.
The single genus Cuscuta in this family comprises more than 200 species. All species of the genus are annual climbing parasitic plants, which grow on their host plant in a thread-like structure. The host plant differs per species. After germination of the seed, a root is formed. As soon as the seedling has found a suitable host plant, the root disappears. If the seedling does not find a host plant within the first few days, it dies. When Cuscuta makes contact with its host plant, the plant turns around its host and penetrates the vessels of the stem with bore roots. In this way, Cuscuta gets its nutrients and no longer needs contact with the soil.
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Image of Cuscuta campestris by Kristian Peters (CC BY-SA)
On this map you find all the locations of transcribed records of the project "Cuscutaceae".
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