Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Rimiti West, by rd from Mutare to Birchenough Br.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Behind Valley of Kings, Mutare

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road from Main Road to Vundu Camp

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Buchnera asiatica L. Striga lutea Lour.
Common names:	Witchweed (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Delicate, annual, parasitic herb, up to 20 cm. Stems quadrangular, densely hairy, sparsely branched. Flowers scarlet red, yellowish on the outside, rarely all yellow, opposite or alternate, usually only 2 per branch open at the same time.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	asiatica: of Asia
Habitat:	A root parasite of wild grasses and crops.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tropical and South Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, across India to SE Asia and China; introduced to North America
Botswana distribution:
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 182. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 128 - 129. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 270. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 53. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 34. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 194. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 242. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 78. Under Scrophulariaceae Philcox, D. (1990). Scrophulariaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(2) Page 134. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 105. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 226. Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 97. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 96.

Other sources of information about Striga asiatica:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Striga asiatica
Flora of Caprivi: Striga asiatica
Flora of Malawi: Striga asiatica
Flora of Mozambique: Striga asiatica
Flora of Zambia: Striga asiatica
Flora of Zimbabwe: Striga asiatica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Striga asiatica
African Plant Database: Striga asiatica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Striga asiatica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Striga asiatica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Striga asiatica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Striga asiatica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Striga asiatica
JSTOR Plant Science: Striga asiatica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Striga asiatica
Plants of the World Online: Striga asiatica
Tropicos: Striga asiatica
Wikipedia: Striga asiatica