Cuscuta americana in Florida 



T. G. YuNCKER 



Cuscuta americana L. is the common dodder found through- 

 out the West Indies and to a somewhat lesser extent in Mexico, 

 Central America and South America. It occurs on a great 

 variety of hosts but seems to prefer those which are woody in 

 character. So far as I have been able to discover, however, this 

 dodder has been unknown in the United States until compara- 

 tively recently. In March 1925, L. H. Bailey and Ethel Zoe 

 Bailey (No. 6457) collected a specimen growing on Sida at 

 Coconut Grove near Miami. Charles A. Mosier collected a 

 specimen on Coccoloba at Buena Vista, Miami, in December 



1929, and a second specimen at Pinelands, Buena Vista, Miami, 

 in January 1930. H. N. Moldenke also collected a specimen (No. 

 372a) "climbing over low shrubs" at Buena Vista in January 



1930. These are the only specimens of this species of which I 

 have any record as having been taken in the United States. 



There does not seem to be any obvious reason why C. 

 americana did not enter Florida long ago. There are many re- 

 gions in the State where it would appear that conditions for its 

 development are ideal and now that it has gained a foothold it 

 is quite possible that it may eventually become a prominent 

 member of the flora of the State. 



Seven other species of Cuscuta are known to occur in Florida 

 viz: C. exaltata Englm., C. umbellata H.B.K., C. obtusiflora 

 variety glandulosa Englm., C. pentagona Englm., C. indecora 

 Choisy, C. Gronovii Willd., and C. compacta Juss. Of these 

 species C. exaltata, which is more common westward, is rare, 

 only one specimen having been seen from Florida. 



DePauw University 

 Greencastle, Ind. 



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