Cuscuta subgenus Grammica (Convolvulaceae) on the Palni Hills with a new record

Cuscuta campestris Yuncker is recorded as a novum on the Palni Hills (India). The parasite occurs in great quantities along the edge of roads, agricultural fields (mostly coffee plantations) and along the bank of streams. The species parasitized every herbaceous plant which came into contact with it. In the examined herbaria every specimen that was collected from the hills under the name of C. chinensis Lam. was reidentified as C. campestris . In addition, despite of the systematic field research there was not found any C. chinensis specimen on the Palni Hills. In this study, several illustrations of C. chinensis are collected and displayed, furthermore the international literature of the morphology and taxonomy of the species are reviewed