Alfalfa dodder vs bardana

Cuscuta approximata compared with Arctium lappa

Key Differences

• Alfalfa dodder is Not Evaluated while bardana is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alfalfa dodder	bardana
Kingdom same	Plantae (planta)	Plantae (planta)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Solanales (Solanales)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Convolvulaceae	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Cuscuta	Arctium
Species	Cuscuta approximata	Arctium lappa

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Alfalfa dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

bardana

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alfalfa dodder	bardana
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).

bardana

Habitat

Inhabits temperate coniferous forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Algeria), Asia (North Korea, Taiwan), Europe (11 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Brazil).

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.

bardana

The Beggar'S-Buttons (Arctium lappa) is a species in the genus Arctium. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits temperate coniferous forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇨🇦 Canada 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States