Cassytha filiformis L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Lauraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cassytha filiformis L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Herbaceous, twining, parasitic vine, 1-5 m long, densely branched, adhering to host by haustoria; stems cylindrical, to 3 mm diam., yellowish or yellow -green, glabrous. Leaves 1-2 mm long, scale - like, or wanting. Spike few -flowered, sometimes headlike; tepals white, ovate, ca. 2mm wide. Fruit globose, light green or white, 5-7 mm diam.

  • Distribution

    Uncommon herb, found in open fields. Maria Bluff (W802). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; a cosmopolitan species.

    Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|