Cuscuta japonica, commonly known as Japanese dodder, is a parasitic vine. It has been listed by the State of California as a noxious weed. The USDA classifies the Japanese dodder as, "Kingdom: Plantae, Subkingdom: Tracheobionta, Superdivision: Spermatophyta, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Subclass: Asteridae, Order: Solanales, Family: Cuscutaceae, Genus: Cuscuta L., Species: Cuscuta japonica Choisy." It has a range of effects on its host and has repeatedly been introduced to the United States of America. C. japonica looks very similar to other vines, making it difficult to distinguish.