Cassytha filiformis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Magnoliids |
Order: | Laurales |
Family: | Lauraceae |
Genus: | Cassytha |
Species: | C. filiformis |
Binomial name | |
Cassytha filiformis L. |
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SynonymsThe Plant List | |
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Cassytha filiformis, common name love-vine, is a species of obligate parasitic vine in the family Lauraceae. The species has a pantropical distribution encompassing the Americas, Indomalaya, Australasia, Polynesia and East Africa In the Caribbean region, it is one of several plants known as "Love vine" because it has a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Cassytha filiformis is a twining vine with an orange to pale green stem. Leaves are reduced to scales about 1 mm long. Flowers are borne in spikes or sometimes solitary. There are six tepals, each 0.1-2.0 mm long. Fruit is a drupe about 7 mm in diameter.