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11a. Cuscuta Linnaeus Cuscuta
Inflorescences monochasial cymes: dense, glomerulate. Pedicels 0–1.5 mm. Flowers: styles 2, equal; stigmas clavate, cylindric, or terete. Capsules: dehiscence circumscissile, interstylar aperture relatively small or inconspicuous. Seeds angled (2 flat faces and 1 convex), ellipsoid, ovoid, or subglobose; seed coat epidermis cells honeycombed when dry and papillate when wet.
Species 21 (4 in the flora): introduced; Europe, Asia, n Africa, Atlantic Islands; introduced also in Mexico, South America, s Africa, Australia. Species of subgen. Cuscuta have holocentric chromosomes (B. Pazy and U. Plitmann 1994; M. A. García and S. Castroviejo 2003).
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| 1 |
Flowers 4(or 5)-merous; calyx lobe apices obtuse to truncate |
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4 Cuscuta europaea |
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Flowers 5-merous; calyx lobe apices acute to acuminate. |
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(2) |
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| 2 (1) |
Styles plus stigmas 0.5–1.1 mm, shorter than ovary; seeds usually connate in pairs; hosts: primarily Linum usitatissimum |
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3 Cuscuta epilinum |
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Styles plus stigmas 0.8–2.2 mm, equaling or longer than ovary; seeds not connate in pairs; hosts: primarily Medicago and Trifolium, sometimes other legumes and herbs from other families. |
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(3) |
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| 3 (2) |
Calyces golden yellow, cellular-reticulate, lobes each with a distal fleshy appendage |
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1 Cuscuta approximata |
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Calyces creamy white or purplish, not notably reticulate, lobes without distal fleshy appendages |
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2 Cuscuta epithymum |
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