Practical
Plants

Cuscuta epythymum

Lesser Dodder

an annual member of the Cuscuta genus in the family Convolvulaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cuscuta
Life cycle
annual
Height
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Lesser dodder is considered to be a valuable though little used herbal remedy that supports the liver, being used for problems affecting the liver and gallbladder[5]. The whole plant is antibilious, appetizer, carminative, cholagogue, mildly diuretic, hepatic, laxative and antiscorbutic[6][2]. A decoction of the stems is used in the treatment of urinary complaints, kidney, spleen and liver disorders, jaundice, sciatica and scorbutic complaints[6]. It also has a reputation as an anticancer agent and as a specific for gout[2]. The plant should not be used by anyone suffering from haemorrhoids[7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7].

Product or use
Antibilious
Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Miscellany

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Spain and east to the Caucasus and central Asia.
Habitat
Parasitic on heather and gorse[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, by lodging it among the stems of a host plant[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host[3]. A climbing plant, it must be grown close to a host plant around which it will twine itself and which it will penetrate with suckers in order to obtain nutriment[3][4]. The flowers emit a remarkably sweet perfume that is especially pronounced towards evening[4].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  2. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  5. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  6. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

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