CellBioNewsApr 15, 2024

Researchers clarify cryptic #differentiation within enigmatic hemiparasitic love #vine #Cassytha filiformis.

#phylogenomics #evolution

https://phys.org/news/2024-04-cryptic-differentiation-enigmatic-hemiparasitic-vine.html

Researchers clarify cryptic differentiation within enigmatic hemiparasitic love vine Cassytha filiformis

The widespread hemiparasitic Lauraceae genus Cassytha currently contains 19 described species, one variety and four forms. This genus is controversial and has not been satisfactorily resolved. Cassytha filiformis is cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical regions. It is currently the only species reported from China.

Phys.org
Colin PurringtonSep 29, 2023
Fun fact for fans of parasitic vines: "in tropical herbaria more than half of the Cuscuta specimens are misidentified as Cassytha" (da Silva et al. 2021). That's just crazy. Deciding between the two options is one of the IDing activities I like to do on #iNaturalist, and a common part of the back and forth in the comments is, e.g., "But @colinpurrington, Cassytha is KNOWN to be in area because there are specimens AT THE LOCAL HERBARIUM." Now I can just leave a link to the paper below. #cuscuta #cassytha #botany #plants #nature https://www.scielo.br/j/rod/a/VbzRnhDdGVs97yZqbyX7wSq/?lang=en
Disentangling parasitic vines in the tropics: taxonomic notes for an accurate identification of <i>Cuscuta</i> (Convolvulaceae) and <i>Cassytha</i> (Lauraceae)

Abstract Parasitic plants are often associated with agricultural, forestry and grassland...