Giant dodder vs small-seed alfalfa dodder

Cuscuta reflexa compared with Cuscuta planiflora

Key Differences

• Giant dodder is Least Concern while small-seed alfalfa dodder is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Giant dodder	small-seed alfalfa dodder
Kingdom same	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Solanales (Nachtschattenartige)	Solanales (Nachtschattenartige)
Family same	Convolvulaceae	Convolvulaceae
Genus same	Cuscuta	Cuscuta
Species	Cuscuta reflexa	Cuscuta planiflora

Evolutionary Relationship

Giant dodder and small-seed alfalfa dodder share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Cuscuta.

Conservation Status

Giant dodder

LC — Least Concern

small-seed alfalfa dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Giant dodder	small-seed alfalfa dodder
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Giant dodder

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Bhutan, Mauritius, and United States.

small-seed alfalfa dodder

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Asia (India) and Europe (8 countries).