''Cuscuta chinensis'' Lam. is a stem holoparasite vine in the family

Convolvulaceae Convolvulaceae (), commonly called the bindweeds or morning glories, is a family of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species. These species are primarily herbaceous vines, but also include trees, shrubs and herbs. The tubers of several spe ...

. It was first described in China in 1786.

Description

''C. chinensis'' is a thin, yellow vine lacking leaves or roots. It produces glomerulate to dense paniculiform inflorescences composed of white-cream 5-merous flowers that are very small, have two styles with capitate stigmata, and produce 3–4 obovoid seeds per capsule. Its pollen grains are small, colporate, and covered by a finely reticulate ektexine. ''C. chinensis'' var. ''chinensis'' has been observed to flower from June–October, December–March, and February–May. It is found throughout western Asia, tropical Asia, eastern Asia, and Australasia at latitudes between 20° N and 50° N. Specimens of '' Cuscuta campestris'' are occasionally mislabeled as ''C. chinensis''; the two species can be differed by ''C. chinensiss carinate calyx lobes, incurved but not inflexed corolla lobes, and dehiscent seed capsule. ''C. chinensis'' var. ''applanata'' flowers from June to October and is found in Mexico and the southwestern US.

Use in traditional medicine

''C. chinensis'' is used medicinally in many Asian countries, including China, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Nepal, and Inner Mongolia. Biochemical analysis has found at least 93 pharmacologically active

phytochemicals Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poison ...

present in ''C. chinensis'' correlated with its use as an

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as o ...

agent, anti-aging agent, pain reliever, or aphrodisiac.

References

chinensis Flora of China Parasitic plants Plants described in 1786 {{Solanales-stub