i8o 



THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



appears to be the small seeded alfalfa dodder (C. epithymwn 

 Murr.). Field dodder occurs on many plants, especially south- 

 ward, where it is known as love vine ; while the small 

 seeded dodder seems to be pretty closely restricted to clover 

 and alfalfa. 



The habit of all these species is similar. The seeds germinate 

 in the soil, but the plant soon attaches itself to the alfalfa or 

 other plant by means of suckers, the thread-like stem of the 

 plant twining about the stem of its host. The leaves are reduced 



Alfalfa seed on the left, dodder seed on the right. Both enlarged 

 (From photo by Slingerland) 



to minute alternate scales. In the small seeded species the 

 seeds are red and the small flower pinkish; in the field or large 

 seeded dodder the stem is yellow and the flowers greenish white. 

 In the clover dodder the seeds are uniformly dull gray, oval 

 or roundish, less than 0.04 inch in diameter; in alfalfa dodder 

 the seeds are reddish-yellow, elongated rather than round, 0.04 

 inch long by 0.02 inch wide ; in field dodder the seeds are bright 

 orange-yellow, somewhat angular, presenting their somewhat 

 flat surfaces with angles betewen, 0.04 and 0.05 inch in diameter. 

 The seeds of the large seeded dodder being about the size 

 of those of alfalfa are rather difficult to remove, but the smaller 

 seeded dodder can be readily removed by means of properly 



