Parasitic Plant Connection

Lauraceae - Cassytha

Family Description

Distribution Map

Cassytha Distribution Map

List of Genera

Cassytha (called love-vine in the Bahamas) bears an uncanny resemblance to dodder (the genus Cuscuta) but is not related to it at all! Cassytha is in Lauraceae, the same family as Sassafras, avocado, and cinnamon whereas dodder is in Convolvulaceae and is related to morning-glory vines. If one looks closely at the flowers, love-vine is quite clearly a member of Lauraceae.

Photographs

Cassytha capillaris
Cassytha filiformis
Cassytha pubescens
Cassytha sp.


Phylogeny

Cassytha, the sole parasitic member of the large family Lauraceae, is uniquivocally assigned to this family based on morphological and molecular data. Its superficial resemblance to Cuscuta is remarkable and an excellent example of convergent evolution.

References to Cassytha

 


SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Lauraceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Lauraceae/index.html
Last updated: 06-Jan-06 / dln