Cuscuta coryli is not recognized as a valid or widely accepted scientific name in contemporary botanical literature. Comprehensive taxonomic databases such as The Plant List, Tropicos, the International Plant Names Index (IPNI), and the World Flora Online do not list a species or subspecies with this binomial. Consequently, there is insufficient encyclopedic information to provide a detailed description of its morphology, distribution, ecology, or economic significance.
Etymology and Plausible Context
The generic name Cuscuta derives from the Latin word cuscuta, meaning “dodder,” which refers to a group of holoparasitic (non-photosynthetic) flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae. These plants are characterized by thin, twining stems that attach to host plants via haustoria to obtain water and nutrients.
The specific epithet coryli is the Latin genitive form of Corylus, the genus that includes hazel trees and shrubs. If the name were applied, it would likely indicate a dodder species associated with, or commonly found on, hazel hosts.
Potential Historical Usage
Occurrences of the name Cuscuta coryli appear sporadically in older or obscure botanical literature, often as a provisional label or as a synonym for other Cuscuta species that parasitize hazel. However, these references lack formal validation under the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), and contemporary taxonomic consensus does not recognize the name.
Conclusion
Given the absence of verifiable, peer‑reviewed sources confirming Cuscuta coryli as a distinct taxon, the term remains unsubstantiated in modern botanical nomenclature. Any further discussion would be speculative.