PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Field Dodder (Cuscuta pentagona)

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Photo by Ryan O'Connor

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Field Dodder (Cuscuta pentagona), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in old fields and prairies, sandstone ledges, and coastal plain marshes. Blooming occurs from mid-July through early-October, fruiting late-July through October. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-July through early-October.

Cuscuta campestris, Cuscuta pentagona var. pentagona

 
 
 

Field dodder is an herbaceous vine with an orange stem and white, 5-parted flowers, with 1.5-2mm-long perianth, united sepals, and without subtending bracts. Petal tips are acute, stamens exserted in flower. Fruits are capsules, seeds are 1mm long. It has alternate, minute scales in place of leaves.

It can be distinguished from other Cuscuta by its dense inflorescence of 5-parted flowers, with pointed, white petals.

Blooming occurs from mid-July through early-October, fruiting late-July through October.

Annual. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-July through early-October.

It has been reported to be observed parasitizing a wide variety of species including Solidago, Polygonum, Crotalaria, Ambrosia, Trifolium, Lespedeza, Equisetum, and Centaurea

Field dodder prefers sandy to clayey soils and is found in old fields and prairies, sandstone ledges, and coastal plain marshes.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Because this plant is an annual, work may safely be conducted before the plants emerge or after they have developed mature seeds.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.