General:
Parasitic, leafless perennial herb; stems threadlike, twining and sticking to other plants by means of suckers.
Leaves:
Reduced to tiny scales.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of several to many stalked flowers in clusters or globular masses; flowers 1.5-3 mm long, with 5 petals/ sepals; sepals free to about halfway to the base, nearly equal; stamens slightly exserted; stigmas headlike.
Fruits:
Capsules depressed-globose, 2.5-3 mm wide, usually not beaked; seeds usually 2.
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Cuscuta arvensis Bey. ex Engelm.
Cuscuta pentagona Engelm.
Cuscuta pentagona var. calycina Engelm.
Grammica campestris (Yunck.) Hadac & Chrtek
Grammica pentagona (Engelm.) W.A. Weber