Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_8294.JPG-08-08-2023
Flower name (scientific): Cuscuta gronovii Willdenow ex Schultes PY: 1820. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) kus-KEW-tuh gro-NOV-ee-ee (or gro-NOV-ee-eye)
Flower name (common): Swamp Dodder
Family name (common): Morning Glory
Family name (scientific): Convolvulaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: A name for dodder used by the monk Rufinus who was also a botanist and herbalist; from the Arabic kechout.
    Specific epithet: Named for the Dutch botanist Johan Frederik (Jan Fredrik) Gronovius (1686 – 1762).
Common name origin: From the common growing habitat. Dodder has an uncertain origin, possibly from German. First use in English (with a different spelling) goes back to around 1300.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Panicle
Plant description:
     Size: 36 to 72 inches (91 to 183 cm)
     Stem hairy: glabrous
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Leaves are scale-like and tiny or absent.
     Color: na
     Hairy: na
     Other: Shape: leaf, scale like, small
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Perennial
Habitat: Marsh and pond margins, moist prairies, swamps, semi shade, sun.
Fruit: Capsule, globose about 3 mm in diameter.
Seed: Reddish-brown to light brown, approximately circular in outline, about 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter.
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Cuscuta pentagona (Field Dodder) and Cuscuta cephalanthi (Buttonbush Dodder) are similar. The flowers of Cuscuta pentagona have petals with sharp tips, while the petals of Cuscuta gronovii have blunt tips. Cuscuta cephalanthi has flowers that are mostly four-lobed, whereas Cuscuta gronovii has flowers with five lobes.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.802220
Longitude: -91.483227
Altitude: 246.00
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym: na
Autonym: Cuscuta gronovii var. gronovii (The other infraspecifics are Cuscuta gronovii var. calyptrata Engelmann, Cuscuta gronovii var. latiflora Engelmann. Both of these are found in the US.)
Wetland Status (NC): Not listed
Wetland Status (MW): Not listed