Alfalfa dodder vs Big-Leaf Maple

Cuscuta approximata compared with Acer macrophyllum

Key Differences

• Alfalfa dodder is Not Evaluated while Big-Leaf Maple is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alfalfa dodder	Big-Leaf Maple
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Solanales (Solanales)	Sapindales (Sapindales)
Family	Convolvulaceae	Sapindaceae
Genus	Cuscuta	Acer
Species	Cuscuta approximata	Acer macrophyllum

Evolutionary Relationship

Alfalfa dodder and Big-Leaf Maple share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Alfalfa dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Big-Leaf Maple

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alfalfa dodder	Big-Leaf Maple
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alfalfa dodder

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (China, Tajikistan), Europe (Hungary, Sweden), North America (Canada, United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia).

Big-Leaf Maple

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Canada, Ireland, and United States.

Alfalfa dodder

The Alfalfa dodder (Cuscuta approximata) is a species in the genus Cuscuta. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Big-Leaf Maple

The Big-Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a species in the genus Acer. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇨🇦 Canada 🇺🇸 United States