204 REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY OF THE 
made the announcement, based on his own observations, that clover 
dodder, Cuscuta trifola (==C. epithymum) lives over winter 
on clover and alfalfa plants in Germany. Also, Sorauer,* in the 
second edition of his well-known Handbuch der Pflanzenkrank- 
heiten, published in 1886, states that clover dodder is not annual 
but perennial and that on perennial plants it perpetuates itself more 
often by the further growth of the previous year’s dodder plants 
than by the germination of new seeds. On the other hand, Frank*® 
ten years later, makes an equally positive statement that the dodders 
are all annual plants which start anew every year from their seeds. 
Kerner and Oliver (in 1895) say that the European species of Cus- 
cuta are all annuals, but in the tropics there are perennial species. 
In 1900 Kiuhn* published another article on dodder in which he 
characterizes the supposed annual habit of clover dodder as one of 
those errors which, even in the realm of science, are sometimes held 
to with remarkable tenacity. After citing his observations made in 
1868 he states that he has since confirmed them in various years, 
even in those having the hardest winters. 
With the exception of a note*®* by the senior author, we know 
of no published record of any dodder living over winter in the 
United States. Hillman,* in a recent bulletin which may be ac- 
cepted as presenting the most advanced ideas on dodder in its re- 
lation to clover and alfalfa in this country says: “It 1s an un- 
settled question whether dodder plants in the field ever live over 
winter. It appears that very few, if any, survive.” 
Such being the present status of the knowledge of this subject 
it is noteworthy that, in New York, Cuscuta epithymum, at least, 
is perennial, regularly living over winter on alfalfa, red clover and 
certain weeds. This statement is based on observations made in 
five alfalfa fields as follows: 
Field No. 1.—This was a 4-acre field located near Geneva. It 
was sown in the spring of 1905 and became so badly infested with 
dodder during the first summer that it was deemed advisable to 
plow it up. The dodder was not seen to flower, but an examina- 
tion of some of the left-over alfalfa seed showed the dodder in it 
*Sorauer (97, 2:48). In a footnote, Wiener landw. Zeit. 1880, p. 377, 
is cited. 
stank (320. G2 52s). “Kerner and Oliver (53, 1:175). 
“Kuhn (58). 
“" Rept. Dir. (N. Y.) Farm. Inst. and Norm. Inst. 1906: 66. 
“ Hillman (46, p. 20). 
