Taxon Report

Cuscuta californica Hook & Arn. var. apiculata Engelm.

pointed dodder

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Cuscuta californica var. apiculata, commonly known as pointed dodder, is a annual vine (parasitic) in the Convolvulaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 0 to 500 meters. Cuscuta californica var. apiculata is ranked 3, Plants About Which We Need More Information, A Review List.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Cuscuta californica Hook & Arn. var. apiculata Engelm.
Common Name:	pointed dodder
Family:	Convolvulaceae
Element Code:	PDCUS01071
USDA Plants Symbol:	CUCAA
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual vine (parasitic)
Blooming Period: Feb-Aug	Feb-Aug
Elevation:	0-500 (0-1640)
General Habitats:	Mojavean desert scrub, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	3
Global Rank:	G5T3
State Rank:	S3?
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 3 on 2007-06-13

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Amboy (3411556), Cadiz (3411555), Cathedral City (3311674), Cross Roads (3411422), Gene Wash (3411432), Mt. Manchester (3511416)?, Needles Nw (3411486)?, Parker (3411423), Tubb Canyon (3311624)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



Move to List 2? Location and rarity information needed. See Trans. Acad. St. Louis 1: 499 (1859) for original description and SIDA 22(1): 177-195 (2006) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2007-06-13

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 October 2025].