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Cuscuta compacta

Juss. ex Choisy

Sessile Dodder

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146516
Element CodePDCUS010C0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilyConvolvulaceae
GenusCuscuta
Other Common Names
Compact Dodder (EN) compact dodder (EN) Cuscute compacte (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Varieties of Cuscuta compacta (i.e., var. efimbriata) are not recognized by the FNA treatment (Costea and Nesom 2023) or Weakley et al. (2024).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-26
Change Date1988-08-04
Edition Date2024-06-26
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Cuscuta compacta is a parasitic perennial vine that is found throughout the eastern United States. With a large range extent, more than 100 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Cuscuta compacta is found across the eastern United States from Massachusetts and Iowa to Florida and Texas (FNA 2023). Range extent was estimated at 3,000,000 sq km using herbarium specimens collected between 1993 and 2024, and estimated at 2,000,000 sq km when historical collections are included (GBIF 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). Anecdotal evidence and floristic literature describe this species as common, evidence that collections and observation reports underestimate the abundance of the species.
Threat Impact Comments
Cuscuta compacta is listed as a noxious weed in many states and may be controlled with herbicides in agricultural areas. It may also be threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Cuscuta compacta grows in "Bottomland forests, stream banks, marshes, swamps, pine savannas, calcareous seeps and streambanks, wet fields, other wet habitats, on herbaceous and especially on woody hosts" (Weakley 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodSavannaCropland/hedgerow
Palustrine Habitats
SCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDFORESTED WETLAND
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
ConnecticutSNRYes
OhioS1Yes
TexasSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
FloridaSNRYes
New JerseySNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
KansasSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS2Yes
MissouriSNRYes
IowaSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
IndianaSNRYes
New YorkS3Yes
MississippiSNRYes
DelawareSUYes
IllinoisSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource useRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
5.1.3 - Persecution/controlRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Indiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mogan RidgeHoosier National Forest8,435
References (8)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. Hilty, J. 2006. Illinois wildflowers. Online. Available: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/ (Accessed 2006).
  4. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Monaco, T. J.; Mainland, C. M. (June 1981). <a href="http://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/haustorium/pdf/haustorium07.pdf">"Cuscuta compacta on Blueberries in North Carolina"</a> (PDF). <i>Haustorium Parasitic Plants Newsletter</i>: 9. http://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/haustorium/pdf/haustorium07.pdf
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  8. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.