Blue star vs Fringed dodder

Amsonia orientalis compared with Cuscuta suaveolens

Key Differences

• Blue star is Critically Endangered while Fringed dodder is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue star	Fringed dodder
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Gentianales (Gentianales)	Solanales (Solanales)
Family	Apocynaceae	Convolvulaceae
Genus	Amsonia	Cuscuta
Species	Amsonia orientalis	Cuscuta suaveolens

Evolutionary Relationship

Blue star and Fringed dodder share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Blue star

CR — Critically Endangered

Fringed dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blue star	Fringed dodder
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue star

Habitat

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

Fringed dodder

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe), Europe (17 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia).

Blue star

The Blue star (Amsonia orientalis) is a species in the genus Amsonia. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.