Practical
Plants

Cuscuta reflexa

Dodder

a perennial member of the Cuscuta genus in the family Convolvulaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cuscuta
Life cycle
perennial
Flower type
hermaphrodite

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.

The seeds are alterative, anthelmintic and carminative[5][6]. They are used in the treatment of bilious disorders[5]. The stems are used in the treatment of bilious disorders[6]. The whole plant is purgative[5][6]. It is used internally in treating protracted fevers and externally in the treatment of body pains and itchy skin[5][6][9]. The plant is employed in Ayurvedic medicine to treat difficulty in urinating, jaundice, muscle pain and coughs[7]. The juice of the plant, mixed with the juice of Saccharum officinarum, is used in the treatment of jaundice[9]. The analysis of the plant differs according to the host it is growing on[5]. The report does not say if this makes a difference to its medicinal properties[K].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Purgative

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to China.
Habitat
Parasitic on Desmodium spp, Rubus spp and Viburnum spp at 1700 - 2900 metres in Kashmir[2]. It is also found on Zizyphus jujube and Vitex negundo and has been known to kill these plants[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
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 that is being grown in a pot in the greenhouse[4].

Cultivation

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

We have virtually no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. One report says that it needs cold greenhouse treatment in this country[1] but some provenances from the higher parts of its range could succeed outdoors. This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host[4]. It must be grown next to the host plant, which it penetrates with suckers in order to obtain nutriment[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  8. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  9. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2

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