Cassytha pubescens (Cassytha pubescens)
Description
Cassytha pubescens is a native Australian hemiparasitic vine species, in the Laurel family. Common names for the species include devils twine, dodder-laurel, spilled devil’s twine or downy dodder-laurel. It is a widespread and common species in south eastern AustraliaThe species was first formally described in 1810 by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Flora Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen Prodromus of the Flora of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land.Leaves are reduced to scales and photosynthesis is achieved through chlorophyll contained in the plants stems. Stems are between 0.5mm and 1.5mm in diameter and the haustoria are between 2 and 3 mm long.Cassytha pubescense haustoria on a host, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania Cassytha pubescense flowering, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania Cassytha pubescens is often compared with the genus Cuscuta Convolvulaceae due to similarities in their morphology and herbaceous parasitic habit
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Laurales
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Family: Lauraceae
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Genus: Cassytha
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