Red dodder (Cuscuta planiflora)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Cuscuta planiflora Ten.
Common name(s):	red dodder

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

Dodder species are parasitic herbs which require a host for establishment, without a host, Cuscuta planiflora seedlings will only survive a few days
(Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Found on leguminous herbs (Richardson et al. 2006). Parasitic on ephemerals, clay flats, hills. (Spooner 1997). They are not rooted to the soil (Roth 2002). They grow under a wide range of environmental conditions (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Pasture dryland; pasture irrigated

Ecological Vegetation Divisions
Coastal scrubs and grassland; grassland

Colours indicate possibility of Cuscuta planiflora infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). - Minimal or negligible impacts (i.e. can go anywhere).	l	mh
2. Reduce tourism?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). - Minor effects to aesthetics.	ml	mh
3. Injurious to people?	No evidence of injurious characteristics. - No effect.	l	l
4. Damage to cultural sites?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). - Moderate visual effect.	ml	mh
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Cuscuta planiflora is neither an aquatic nor a riparian weed, therefore unlikely to interrupt water flow. - Little impact on water flow.	l	m
6. Impact water quality?	Cuscuta planiflora is neither an aquatic nor a riparian weed, and there is no evidence of toxicity therefore unlikely to interrupt water quality. - No noticeable impacts on dissolved O2 or light levels,	l	m
7. Increase soil erosion?	Seedlings are without roots (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Once Cuscuta planiflora has attached to a host, no part of the plant is in contact with soil. Erosion is not likely to be effected. - Low probability of large scale soil movement.	l	m
8. Reduce biomass?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). - Biomass may increase.	l	m
9. Change fire regime?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). Increased plant material may increase fuel load, but there is little evidence that Cuscuta planiflora increases fire risk. - Small or negligible fire risk.	l	m
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC = Low Rise Woodland (E); CMA = Mallee; Bioregion = Murray Mallee; VH CLIMATE potential. Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). - Major displacement of some dominant species within a strata/layer (or some dominant species within different layers).	mh	h
(b) medium value EVC	EVC = Grassy Dry Forest (D); CMA =Goulburn Broken; Bioregion = Central Victorian Uplands; VH CLIMATE potential. Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). - Major displacement of some dominant species within a strata/layer (or some dominant species within different layers).	mh	h
(c) low value EVC	EVC = Shrubby Dry Forest (LC); CMA = East Gippsland; Bioregion = East Gippsland Uplands; VH CLIMATE potential. Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). - Major displacement of some dominant species within a strata/layer (or some dominant species within different layers).	mh	h
11. Impact on structure?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). - Minor effect on 20-60% of the floral strata.	ml	mh
12. Effect on threatened flora?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). Impacts to threatened flora are uncertain.	mh	l
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). Overseas [outside Australia] infested fodder is claimed to cause scouring and sometimes death of cattle, losses are not significant in Australia (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Impacts on threatened fauna are uncertain.	mh	l
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	Overseas [outside Australia] infested fodder is claimed to cause scouring and sometimes death of cattle, losses are not significant in Australia (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Parasitic twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). Height is restricted to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Twists tightly around host plants (DPI 2003). Grows in swarming tangles of twisting vines around other plants’ stems (Roth 2002). - No fauna affected due to fauna not co-existing within weed area or strata.	l	m
15. Benefits fauna?	Overseas [outside Australia] infested fodder is claimed to cause scouring and sometimes death of cattle, losses are not significant in Australia (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Provides very little support to desirable species.	h	mh
16. Injurious to fauna?	Overseas [outside Australia] infested fodder is claimed to cause scouring and sometimes death of cattle, losses are not significant in Australia (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - No effects.	l	mh
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	Overseas [outside Australia] infested fodder is claimed to cause scouring and sometimes death of cattle, losses are not significant in Australia (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Provides food for one or more minor pest species.	ml	mh
18. Provides harbour?	A parasitic climber/herb (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Height is limited to host plant and surrounding vegetation (Roth 2002). Depending on host plant, this dodder species has potential to provide some shelter for pest animals. - Doesn’t provide harbour for serious pest species, but may provide for minor pest species.	ml	mh
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Dodder seed readily contaminates lucerne and clover seed. Crop yields are reduced by dodders, mainly by absorbing food material from the host and also through shading by the dense mats of stems. Infested areas are often quarantined, causing considerable financial loss and inconvenience. (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Serious impacts on quantity (e.g. >20% reduction). Unviable to harvest crop/stock.	h	mh
20. Impact quality?	A parasitic annual herb, dodder seed readily contaminates lucerne and clover seed. Of commercial crops, it has been noted on lucerne, tomato, zucchini, carrot, lupin, celery, onion and lettuce Infested areas are often quarantined, causing considerable financial loss and inconvenience. (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Serious impacts on quality, (e.g. >20% reduction). – Produce may be rejected for sale or export.	h	mh
21. Affect land value?	Crop yields are reduced by dodders, mainly by absorbing food material from the host and also through shading by the dense mats of stems. Infested areas are often quarantined, causing considerable financial loss and inconvenience. (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Major significance >10%	h	mh
22. Change land use?	A dodder infestation in lucerne crops near Tamworth NSW was abandoned as it could not be harvested; the land is now only used for grazing (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). A large infestation of dodder may mean that the land is no longer profitable and it may instigate a change in the landscape, as illustrated in Parsons and Cuthbertson (1992), above. - Downgrading of the priority land use, to one with less agricultural return.	mh	mh
23. Increase harvest costs?	“Separation of dodder from commercial seed is difficult” Crop yields are reduced by dodders, mainly by absorbing food material from the host and also through shading by the dense mats of stems. Infested areas are often quarantined, causing considerable financial loss and inconvenience. (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Minor increases in cost of harvesting, more time and labour would be required.	mh	mh
24. Disease host/vector?	Brunt et al. 1996 do not list Cuscuta planiflora as a host/vector for disease. - Little or no host.	l	m

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Seeds germinate in spring summer and autumn, mostly in late spring (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Requires natural seasonal disturbances to germinate.	mh	mh
2. Establishment requirements?	Dodder species are parasitic herbs which require a host for establishment, without a host, Cuscuta planiflora seedlings will only survive a few days (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Establishment factors are likely to be dependent on host species. - Requires more specific requirements to establish.	ml	mh
3. How much disturbance is required?	Clay flats, hills, ephemerals (Spooner 1997). Very little information.	m	l
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Twining annual herb or climber (Spooner 1997). - Climber/creeper.	ml	m
5. Allelopathic properties?	None described. - None.	l	l
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	Seeds of dodder pass through animals in a viable state, and seedlings have been observed growing from droppings of cows, sheep, goats and kangaroos (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Dodder species are consumed, but tolerance to herbivory is unknown.	m	l
7. Normal growth rate?	Seedlings are without roots and only live for a few days unless the young shoot makes contact with a host plant to which it becomes attached…twining stems grow rapidly over the host plant (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Amazingly fast growth (Roth 2002). - Rapid growth rate that will exceed most other species of the same life form.	h	mh
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Tolerances to stressors are unknown, but are likely to be dependent on host plant.	m	l
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Reproducing by seed (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Both sexual and vegetative reproduction.	h	mh
10. Number of propagules produced?	Seed production is prolific and up to 16000 seeds have been recorded from individual plants (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Above 2000.	h	mh
11. Propagule longevity?	Many seeds have a hard coat and may remain dormant in the soil for at least 5 years (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - greater than 25% of seeds survive 5 years and vegetatively reproduces.	l	mh
12. Reproductive period?	Annual (Spooner 1997). - Mature plant produces viable propagules for only one year.	l	mh
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Annual (Spooner 1997). Seed may be set when the plants are only three weeks old but seeding continues over a long period (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992) - Reaches maturity and produces viable propagules or vegetative propagules become separate individuals in under a year.	h	mh
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	Most dispersal is by seed, but stem fragments can be spread on farm equipment or by water. Dodder readily contaminates lucerne and clover seed, and the sowing of such seed has been the principle means of dispersal throughout the world. Seeds are also known to be spread in mud on the feet of birds (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Propagules spread by water, attachment to animals and farm machinery and as a contaminant to agricultural produce.	mh	mh
15. How far do they disperse?	Most dispersal is by seed, but stem fragments can be spread on farm equipment or by water. Dodder readily contaminates lucerne and clover seed, and the sowing of such seed has been the principle means of dispersal throughout the world. Seeds are also known to be spread in mud on the feet of birds (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). - Few propagules will disperse greater than one kilometre but many will reach 200-1000 metres.	mh	mh

References

Brunt, A.A., Crabtree, K., Dallwitz, M.J., Gibbs, A.J., Watson, L. and Zurcher, E.J. (eds.) (1996 onwards). `Plant Viruses Online: Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database. Version: 20th August 1996.' Available at http://biology.anu.edu.au/Groups/MES/vide/ (verified 28 April 2009).

Parsons WT and Cuthbertson EG. (2001) Noxious Weeds of Australia. 2nd Ed. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

Rice EL. (1984) Allelopathy. Academic Press, Inc. Orlando.

Roth S (2001) Weeds Friend or Foe? Published by Carrol and Brown, London.

Spooner A (1997) in FloraBase The Western Australian Flora. Available at http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/11021 (verified 29 May 2009).

Global present distribution data references

Australian National Herbarium (ANH) (2008) Australia’s Virtual Herbarium, Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Diversity and Research, Available at http://www.anbg.gov.au/avh/ (verified 28 May 2009).

Department of the Environment and Heritage (Commonwealth of Australia). (1993 – On-going) Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) http://www.cpbr.gov.au/apni/index.html (verified 28 May 2009).

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) (2006) Flora information system [CD-ROM], Biodiversity and Natural Resources Section, Viridans Pty Ltd, Bentleigh.

EIS: Environmental Information System (2006) Parks Victoria.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2008) Global biodiversity information facility, Available at http://www.gbif.org/ (verified 28 May 2009).

Integrated Taxonomic Information System. (2009) Available at http://www.itis.gov/ verified 28 May 2009).

International Plant Names. (2005) International Plant Names Index Plant Name Search. Available at http://www.ipni.org/ipni/plantnamesearchpage.do (verified 28 May 2009).

Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) (2009) w³TROPICOS, Missouri Botanical Gardens Database, Available at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html (verified 28 May 2009).

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. (2003) Census of Vascular Plants of Victoria. Available at http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/research_and_conservation/plant_information/viclist (verified 28 May 2009).

United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. Taxonomy Query. (2009) Available at http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxgenform.pl (verified 28 May 2009).

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