Taxon Report

Cuscuta obtusiflora Kunth var. glandulosa Engelm.

Peruvian dodder

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Cuscuta obtusiflora var. glandulosa, commonly known as Peruvian dodder, is a annual vine (parasitic) in the Convolvulaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Marshes and swamps, growing at elevations from 15 to 280 meters. Cuscuta obtusiflora var. glandulosa is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Cuscuta obtusiflora Kunth var. glandulosa Engelm.
Common Name:	Peruvian dodder
Family:	Convolvulaceae
Element Code:	PDCUS01111
USDA Plants Symbol:	CUOBG
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual vine (parasitic)
Blooming Period: Jul-Oct	Jul-Oct
Elevation:	15-280 (50-920)
General Habitats:	Marshes and swamps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5T4?
State Rank:	SH
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12 added to 2.2 on 2011-08-24

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	5

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX), Merced (MER), Sacramento (SAC)?, San Bernardino (SBD)*, Sonoma (SON), Sutter (SUT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
El Monte (3411811), Florin (3812144)?, Redlands (3411712), San Bernardino South (3411713)*, Sanborn Slough (3912138), Sebastopol (3812247), Snelling (3712054)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	17 %
Development	1	16%

Notes



Last seen in 1948 at a marsh near Snelling (MER County); need field surveys. Plants from SAC County need verification. Record from Warm Creek in SBD County presumed extirpated. See Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 1:492 (1859) for original description and SIDA 22(1):151-175 (2006) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2011-08-24

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 7 December 2025].