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Cassytha Racemosa 'Ridged Fruit Dodder' Seeds

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Cassytha Racemosa 'Ridged Fruit Dodder' - 5x Seeds

Cassytha racemosa, commonly known as dodder laurel or ridged fruit dodder, is a parasitic vine native to Australia, particularly in coastal and inland regions. It belongs to the Lauraceae family. Here’s a summary of its key features:

  • Growth Habit: A slender, twining, and leafless vine with thread-like, green to yellowish stems that wrap around host plants.
  • Leaves: Reduced to small scales, as the plant relies on hosts for water and nutrients.
  • Flowers: Tiny, white to cream, and clustered in small spikes (racemes), blooming mainly in spring and summer.
  • Fruits: Small, globular berries, typically green turning black when ripe, containing a single seed.
  • Habitat: Found in a variety of environments, including heathlands, forests, and coastal dunes. It attaches to a wide range of host plants.
  • Ecological Role: Plays a role in controlling the growth of certain plants and provides food for native wildlife such as birds that eat its berries.
  • Cultural Uses: Some Indigenous groups have used parts of the plant for traditional medicine or other purposes.

Cassytha racemosa is an intriguing parasitic plant with ecological significance.

Prefers well-drained soils and is drought tolerant.

Seed Starting Method

Cassytha Racemosa 'Ridged Fruit Dodder' are a few millimeters in size. As a general rule Cassytha Racemosa 'Ridged Fruit Dodder' seed should be sown to the depth of the seed. 

Place the seed in a container and cover with boiled water and allow to soak overnight.

The swollen seed can then be sown, re-treat seeds that have not swollen yet until you're satisfied that the pre-treatment has worked.

Although most Australian native/ endemic seed can be sown throughout the seasons across Australia it is advisable to sow in Spring or Summer in colder regions. The optimum temperate to ensure the best possible germination rate for sowing many Australian native/ endemic species is around 18-22°C.  
Sowing Depth


See above.
The seed will lodge in the pores of your seed starting mix once misted with water.
Growing Season


Spring & Autumn
Place in a warm sunny position and keep moist to avoid drying out.
Germination Time 10-30 days at around 18-22°C.
Hardiness Hardy 
Plant Spacing  N/A
Plant Height
Planting Position Partial or full sun
Days Until Maturity  N/A
Growing tips

Seeds of many native/endemic species require specific conditions that mimic their natural habitat or specially formulated seed treatments, to break dormancy. 

Do not be to quick to discard pots that haven't yet shown signs of seed germination. Seeds will often lay dormant until conditions are optimal and will produce amazing results, long after they have been forgotten.

Pre-treatment of smoke is recommended for most native species.

Research shows that many members of this species are responsive to pre-treatment of smoke, which mimocs an Australian bushfire. Although germination will may occur without smoke treatment it has proved be beneficial in reducing the number of days to germination and increasing germination rates of this species.

Smoke treatments are simple and can be undertaken by applying to the surface after sowing.

Click this link to view our seed starting treatments specially designed for Australian Natives

 

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