Cuscuta chinensis

C. chinensis is a thin, yellow vine lacking leaves or roots.[2] 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.[3][5] Its pollen grains are small, colporate, and covered by a finely reticulate ektexine.[6]

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[3] at latitudes between 20° N and 50° N.[2] Specimens of Cuscuta campestris are occasionally mislabeled as C. chinensis; the two species can be differed by C. chinensis's carinate calyx lobes, incurved but not inflexed corolla lobes, and dehiscent seed capsule.[3]

C. chinensis var. applanata flowers from June to October and is found in Mexico and the southwestern US.[3]

C. chinensis is used medicinally in many Asian countries, including China, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Nepal, and Inner Mongolia.[7][8] Biochemical analysis has found at least 93 pharmacologically active phytochemicals present in C. chinensis correlated with its use as an anti-inflammatory agent, anti-aging agent, pain reliever, or aphrodisiac.[9]