Convolvulaceae

Morning Glory Family

Dodders

FAMILY: Morning glory family (Convolvulaceae) – Cuscuta genus. This genus has also been placed in the dodder family (Cuscutaceae).

SPECIES: #1 California, orange, or chaparral dodder (Cuscuta californica Hook. & Arn.). #2 bigfruit or mega dodder (Cuscuta megalocarpa Rydb. = Cuscuta curta (Engelm.) Rydb. = Cuscuta umbrosa Beyr. ex Hook.). #3 flatglobe or umbrella dodder (Cuscuta umbellata Kunth).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Warning! Although sometimes called “vegetable spaghetti,” dodders are generally considered inedible and potentially harmful (Foster 1990 p. 66 and Loewer p. 124), and the stems may cause digestive upset (Vizgirdas p. 80).

Seeds of all species listed above are reported to be edible. Other parts are inedible or of questionable edibility. Very few references indicate any food uses for dodders and the importance of dodders among Native Americans appears to be minor. No seeds were sampled for this reference. Only the stems of orange dodder (C. californica) were sampled, and consumption of these stems is not recommended.

NOTES: Calvin and Rosanna Hamilton, founders of the Science Views website, indicate that orange dodder stems are fully edible and high in beta-carotene. However, the ethnobotanical record doesn’t seem to support the edibility of these stems. The Cahuilla Indians of southern California call the plant “wikat.” They used the stems as scouring pads, but not as food (Bean and Saubel p. 59). The Kawaiisu Indians, also of southern California, used the stems to stop nose bleeds, but apparently didn’t eat them (Zigmond p. 23). Their name for orange dodder “cigipiiwanavi” means “lizard’s net.” The Maidu Indians of northern California ate the seeds of this plant, but apparently didn’t eat the stems or other parts (Vizgirdas p. 80). Seeds of other dodders were eaten in Arizona and New Mexico (Austin pp. 116-118, Castetter 1935-a p. 25, Moerman p. 96, and Wooton p. 415), but none of these sources mention any edible uses for the stems. In the rugged Newberry Mountains of southern Nevada, against better judgment, I decided to try orange dodder stems. The following notes are not meant to imply that these stems are fit for consumption. In fact, considering the scarcity of references, they’re probably harmful. At the time, I was unaware of the stem’s laxative action, but the amount I consumed was insufficient to cause problems. Orange dodder is a parasitic plant that looks like orange spaghetti tangled on other plants (known as hosts). Anyone considering consumption should consider the host when gathering this plant and never gather it when it’s growing on a poisonous host. Orange dodder isn’t very particular about what it grows on. Host plants need to be edible because integration with the host’s vascular system allows for the exchange of poisonous compounds along with fluids and nutrients. Host plants can also affect the flavor. After brief boiling, orange dodder stems growing on yellow suncups (Chylismia brevipes = Camissonia brevipes) have a neutral flavor and a crispy texture, somewhat like firm alfalfa sprouts. No acrid, bitter, resinous, soapy, fragrant, medicine-like, chemical-like, or other harsh accents compromise the flavor. The texture is easily chewable rather than tough, stringy, or fibrous. Based on flavor, orange dodder would seem perfectly edible, but chemical defenses can be undetectable and unforgivable. Gathering is best done when the stems are moist, lively, and colorful in spring. Old stems become dry, brown, and unsuitable for consumption. Orange dodder is very common in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, where it’s considered a noxious weed. Once again, consumption is not advised, but this species merits further investigation, and hopefully it proves to be safe.

IDENTIFICATION: About 50 species of the Cuscuta genus are found in the United States, many of which are native to the Southwest.

Description of orange dodder (Cuscuta californica): FORM nongreen, rootless, twining, parasitic plant, often appearing as a tangled clump on shrubs; STEMS thread-like, hairless, and normally orange; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades reduced to tiny scales; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in spike-like clusters; stalks short; bracts absent; calyces 5-lobed; corollas white, bell-shaped, 5-acute-lobed, gland-dotted, and without appendages (infrastaminal scales); pistils 1; styles 2; stigmas head-like; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules obovoid; HABITAT widespread in California and western Arizona; blooming March to June.

Description of bigfruit dodder (Cuscuta megalocarpa): FORM nongreen, rootless, twining, parasitic plant, often appearing as a tangled clump on shrubs; STEMS thread-like, hairless, and normally light yellow; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades reduced to tiny scales; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in dense clusters; stalks short; bracts absent; calyces 5-lobed; corollas 5-obtuse-lobed, bell-shaped, yellowish-white, and with an inner ring of fringed scales; pistils 1; styles 2; stigmas head-like; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules ellipsoid, 3-6 mm long, thin, papery, splitting irregularly, and filled with 2-4 seeds; HABITAT widespread in New Mexico and northward to Montana on willows and other shrubs; blooming July and August.

Description of flatglobe dodder (Cuscuta umbellata): FORM nongreen, rootless, twining, parasitic plant, often appearing as a tangled clump on shrubs; STEMS thread-like, hairless, and normally light yellow; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades reduced to tiny scales; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in clusters (umbellate cymes); stalks short; bracts absent; calyces 5-lobed; corollas 5-acute-lobed, bell-shaped, yellowish-white, and with an inner ring of fringed scales; pistils 1; styles 2; stigmas cylindrical (not head-like), appearing like the styles; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules thin, papery, splitting open along the equators, and filled with 2-4 seeds; HABITAT mid elevations from Arizona to Texas; blooming July to September.

REFERENCES: #1 orange dodder (Cuscuta californica): seeds Vizgirdas (p. 80). #2 bigfruit dodder (Cuscuta megalocarpa = Cuscuta curta = Cuscuta umbrosa): seeds Castetter (1935-a pp. 22 and 25) and Yanovski (p. 53). #3 flatglobe dodder (Cuscuta umbellata): seeds Castetter (1935-a pp. 22 and 25) and Yanovski (p. 53). 

Internet reference for stems of orange dodder (Cuscuta californica):

http://scienceviews.com/photo/library/SIA1576.html. Site active in 2021.

Morning Glories

FAMILY: Morning glory family (Convolvulaceae) – Ipomoea genus.

SPECIES: #1 bush morning glory (Ipomoea leptophylla Torr.). #2 Huachuca morning glory (Ipomoea plummerae A. Gray).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Roots of both species listed above are edible. Sweet potato (I. batatas) is a member of this genus.

Bush morning glory (I. leptophylla) has been described as “a starvation food by no means palatable or nutritious.” It has also been described as “one of the best wild foods around.” Both opinions have elements of truth. Root systems of bush morning glory form tuberous masses and send out tentacle-like extensions. Gathering the roots ranges from easy to somewhat like digging up tree stumps. Size and soil conditions determine the level of difficulty. Bush morning glory prefers sandy soils and blooms from July to September. Roots can be gathered during this time or year-round if the plant can be accurately identified. Center portions of the tuberous masses are the best part for consumption. The tentacle-like extensions are initially thin and tender, but they soon become thick, tough, discolored, and unpalatable. After the exercise of gathering, processing the tuberous masses is like splitting logs to reach the soft interiors. An axe is recommended for these efforts. Chunks hacked out of the interiors have a firm, chalky, carrot-like consistency. After about 30 minutes of boiling, the chunks become surprisingly soft and almost free of fibrous debris. They’re essentially pure carbohydrates. Boiling brings out an appealing flavor nearly identical to potatoes—white potatoes rather than sweet potatoes. A slightly musty accent may be present, but the chunks are free of harsh overtones. The tentacle-like extensions are much less palatable and may account for some of the negative reviews. Overall, bush morning glory is a good resource found throughout the southern Great Plains to eastern New Mexico.

Huachuca morning glory (I. plummerae) is a small vine with pink flowers blooming after seasonal summer rains. It arises from tubers about 1-2 cm in diameter. The tubers taste virtually identical to sweet potatoes (I. batatas). The texture is also like sweet potatoes. Fleshy portions are white and surrounded by brown skins. Peeling the skins is unnecessary. Only about 15 minutes of cooking is required to soften the tubers. After baking or boiling, they’re every bit as good as store bought sweet potatoes. Native Americans valued Huachuca morning glories. The tubers grow near the surface, about 10-30 cm deep. Gathering them is easy, but finding enough to gather may be difficult. They can be gathered year-round, but trying to find them without any aboveground parts is basically impossible. The Huachuca Mountains are located in southeastern Arizona. Most mountain ranges in that area and southwestern New Mexico provide suitable habitat for this wonderful vine.

IDENTIFICATION: Approximately 50 species of the Ipomoea genus are found in the continental United States.

Description of bush morning glory (Ipomoea leptophylla): FORM low-lying to upright perennial plant or shrub about 2-11 dm tall, often wider than tall, completely hairless throughout, and emerging from an extensive root system; LEAVES simple; alternate; stalks very short; blades linear, 5-13 cm long by 4-9 mm wide; margins entire; FLOWERS showy, regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged individually or a few in clusters; stalks shorter than the leaves; sepals 5; petals 5, united into funnels, pinkish-purple, and 4-8 cm long; pistils 1; styles 1; stigmas 1 and head-like; stamens 5; FRUITS ellipsoid capsules; HABITAT sandy soils throughout the Great Plains to eastern New Mexico; blooming July to September. NOTES: The long linear leaves of this species are distinctive. Only 1 other species in the Southwest has similar leaves.

Description of Huachuca morning glory (Ipomoea plummerae): FORM small, upright or low-lying perennial vine about 5-35 cm tall emerging from a globe-shaped tuber; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades deeply pedately divided (palmate with the side lobes divided) into 3-7 thread-like segments; surfaces hairless; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged individually or a few on stalks that are longer than the calyces; sepals 5, united, and warty; petals 5, united into funnels, and pinkish-purple; pistils 1; styles 1; stigmas 1 and head-like; stamens 5; FRUITS globe-shaped capsules; HABITAT mountains of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico; blooming July to September, after seasonal rains. NOTES: The globe-shaped tubers and bumpy sepals are important features of this species.

REFERENCES: #1 bush morning glory (Ipomoea leptophylla): roots Couplan (pp. 356-357) and Harrington (pp. 180-182). #2 Huachuca morning glory (Ipomoea plummerae): roots Couplan (pp. 356-357).