Cassytha

This article is about a genus in the family Lauraceae. Not to be confused with a similar-looking, unrelated genus Cuscuta, in the Convolvulaceae.

Cassytha
Cassytha filiformis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Cassytha
L.
Species

See text

Cassytha ciliolata, showing flower buds, flowers, fruit, and haustoria both on its own stems and host bark
Cassytha filiformis buds and opening flower

Cassytha is a genus of some two dozen species of obligately parasitic vines in the family Lauraceae. Superficially, and in some aspects of their ecology, they closely resemble plants in the unrelated genus Cuscuta, the dodders.[1] When fruit and flowers are absent in the field, the physical resemblance is so close that few people without technical training can discern the difference. In this respect and in their ecology the two genera present a spectacular example of convergent evolution.[2] Nonetheless, Nickrent comments that "Cassytha is uneqivocally assigned to Lauraceae based on (both) morphological and molecular data."[3][4] In its divergence from habits typical of the Lauraceae, Cassytha also presents examples of mosaic evolution[5]

Several species of Cassytha are regarded as pests in various regions, though as a rule they are not as serious a problem as the true dodders. Some even yield a welcome harvest of fruit, or are valued for their perceived medicinal or aphrodisiac properties, partly because, like many members of the Lauraceae, some are fragrant when bruised.[6][7] Their stems make useful strings for construction of thatched roofs and certain styles of lei and the like.[8]

  1. ^ Weber, J. Z. A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF CASSYTHA (LAURACEAE) IN AUSTRALIA. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 3(3): 187-262(1981) JSTOR
  2. ^ Nickrent, D. L. 2002. Phylogenetic Origins of Parasitic Plants. Chapter 3, pp. 29–56 In J. A. López-Sáez, P. Catalán and L. Sáez [eds.], Parasitic Plants of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid.
  3. ^ The Parasitic Plant Connection: Phylogenetic Relationships of Parasitic Flowering Plants
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference rr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Kuijt, J. 1969. The Biology of Parasitic Flowering Plants. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
  6. ^ Brophy, Paul I.; Goldsack, Joseph J.; Forster, Robert J. (2009). "The Essential Oils of Some Australian Cassytha Species (Lauraceae)". Journal of Essential Oil Research. 21 (6): 543–546. doi:10.1080/10412905.2009.9700239. S2CID 97991612.
  7. ^ "Cassytha L.: FloraBase: Flora of Western Australia".
  8. ^ "ENature: FieldGuides: Search Results". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2012.