Bigfruit Dodder (Cuscuta megalocarpa)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
We have virtually no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host.
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, by lodging it among the stems of a host plant.
Edible uses
Seed - parched and ground into a meal.
Habitat
Grows on various shrubs and herbs, also occasionally found on cultivated crops.
Native range
N. America - Minnesota to Montana and south to Colorado.