Alfalfa dodder vs Brook Alder

Cuscuta approximata compared with Alnus maritima

Key Differences

• Alfalfa dodder is Not Evaluated while Brook Alder is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alfalfa dodder	Brook Alder
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Solanales (Solanales)	Fagales (Beeches & Oaks)
Family	Convolvulaceae	Betulaceae
Genus	Cuscuta	Alnus
Species	Cuscuta approximata	Alnus maritima

Evolutionary Relationship

Alfalfa dodder and Brook Alder share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Alfalfa dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Brook Alder

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alfalfa dodder	Brook Alder
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).

Brook Alder

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, France, Netherlands, and United Kingdom. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Brook Alder

The Brook Alder (Alnus maritima) is a species in the genus Alnus. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.