III. 
\& 
<x 
V/ 
gfli 
59 
PAPERS ON CUSCUTINEAE. 
I. A MONOGRAPHY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CUSCUTINEAl 
^ From the American Journal of Science, Yol. XLIIL No. 2 , October, 1842 . 
, L, ?<*•. * , —. , 44"- 7 
In directing my attention to the different forms of Cuscuta of this vicinity, I was surprised to 
find several distinct species, as well as a remarkable allied genus, while only a single species, the 
Cuscuta Americana, is noticed in botanical works. Having been induced to examine particularly as 
well the species of this neighborhood, as the specimens with which my correspondents in different 
parts of the country have favored me, I offer the result of my investigations to the public, with the 
view of directing the attention of botanists throughout our wide-spread country to the subject; 
trusting that this neglected tribe of plants may thereby be further elucidated. I therefore avail 
myself of this opportunity to request botanists, in different parts of the country to communicate 
specimens of the Cuscutse of their vicinity, accompanied by the plant on which they grow. 
ORDER CONYOLYULACEiE, R. Br. TRIBE 2. CUSCUTINE^E, Link. 
Leaves reduced to scales. Embryo spirally rolled around a mucilaginous albumen, without 
This remarkable tribe is appended to Convolvulacece, and bears to that family the same relation 
which Monotropece bear to Pyrolacece, and Orobanchece to Antirrhinece: these plants, which may 
be likened to Phanerogamous Fungi, being nil destitute of verdure and of proper leaves (bearing 
scales in place of the latter, but never leafless in the full meaning of the term); while in the 
structure of their flowers they agree with plants of the highest organization. They are all parasitic 
on other vegetables ; the Cuscutinece on their stems; most Orobanchece on their roots; and the Mono¬ 
tropece on their mouldering remains r hence they are obviously analogous to the class Entozoa of the 
animal kingdom ; and may be termed Epiphyta, growing on plants. 
The Cuscutineee are distinguished from other Epiphyta by their growing on and twining around 
the stems (and occasionally the leaves) of other plants, as well as by their large seeds, resembling 
those of Convolvulus, but presenting a long and slender embryo, which is spirally coiled 
around a mass of mucilaginous albumen. Monotropece and Orobanchece have extremely [334] 
minute seeds, in some respects similar to the spores of Acotyledonous plants. The seeds of 
Cuscutinese germinate in the ground ; but soon finding the plants round which they twine (turning 
constantly to the left, like all Convolvulaceae), they strike their papillose roots into the epidermis of 
the stem, from which they'subsequently derive their nourishment; their own original stems soon 
withering away, so that the plant is no longer in direct communication with the earth. 
Mo. Bot Gs 
1901. 
copyright reserved 
