Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 24, 2026

Cuscuta reflexa

Cuscuta reflexa, the giant dodder or ulan ulan, is one of about 220 species in genus Cuscuta, in the family Convolvulaceae. It is common in the Indian subcontinent and the Greater Himalayas and as far south as Malaysia and Indonesia. This parasitic plant species is a leafless twined sprawling thin vine that grows over a host plant, including large trees. It will make garlands hanging down from tree canopies as long as 10 metres (33 ft). The flowers are small, bell shaped and white with yellow filaments.

Last revised
Jun 24, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
324 w
Citations
9
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Cuscuta reflexa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Cuscuta
Species:
C. reflexa
Binomial name
Cuscuta reflexa
Varieties1
  • Cuscuta reflexa var. brachystigma Engelm.
  • Cuscuta reflexa var. reflexa
Synonyms
Species1
  • Kadurias reflexa (Roxb.) Raf.
  • Monogynella reflexa (Roxb.) Holub
var. brachystigma2
  • Cuscuta anguina Edgew.
  • Cuscuta pentandra B.Heyne ex Engelm.
  • Cuscuta reflexa var. anguina (Edgew.) C.B.Clarke
var. reflexa3
  • Cuscuta elatior Choisy
  • Cuscuta grandiflora Wall. ex Choisy, nom. illeg.
  • Cuscuta hookeri Sweet
  • Cuscuta macrantha G.Don
  • Cuscuta megalantha Steud.
  • Cuscuta reflexa var. grandiflora Engelm.
  • Cuscuta reflexa var. verrucosa (Sweet) Hook.
  • Cuscuta verrucosa Sweet

Cuscuta reflexa, the giant dodder or ulan ulan,4 is one of about 220 species in genus Cuscuta, in the family Convolvulaceae.5 It is common in the Indian subcontinent and the Greater Himalayas and as far south as Malaysia and Indonesia.6 This parasitic plant species is a leafless twined sprawling thin vine that grows over a host plant, including large trees. It will make garlands hanging down from tree canopies as long as 10 metres (33 ft).7 The flowers are small, bell shaped and white with yellow filaments.

  • Cuscuta reflexa flowers
    Cuscuta reflexa flowers
References

References

  1. "Cuscuta reflexa Roxb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  2. "Cuscuta reflexa var. brachystigma Engelm". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. "Cuscuta reflexa var. reflexa". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  4. NRCS. "Cuscuta reflexa". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  5. "Cuscuta L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  6. O'Neill, A.R.; Rana, S.K. (2019). "An ethnobotanical analysis of parasitic plants (Parijibi) in the Nepal Himalaya". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 12 (14): 14. doi:10.1186/s13002-016-0086-y. PMC 4765049. PMID 26912113.
  7. Van Steenis, C.G.G.J.; et al. (1972). The Mountain Flora of Java. Leiden, Netherlands: E.J. Brill. p. Plate 13 Caption 3.