About Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze
Scientific Name
Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze
Seedling Traits
Seedlings of S. asiatica do not appear above ground; only white succulent shoots can be found attached to host roots.
Mature Plant Foliage
Mature plants produce green foliage above ground, which is sparsely covered with coarse, short, white, bulbous-based hairs.
Mature Plant Height
Mature plants typically stand 15–30 centimetres (5.9–11.8 in) tall, though they have been recorded growing up to 60 centimetres (24 in).
Leaf Characteristics
Leaves are nearly opposite, narrowly lanceolate, and around 1–3 centimetres (0.39–1.18 in) long, and each successive pair of leaves grows perpendicular to the previous pair.
Flower Growth Period
Flowers grow in loose spikes and develop during summer and fall.
Flower Structure
They are small (less than 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) in diameter), sessile, axillary, and have a two-lipped corolla.
Regional Flower Color Variation
Flower colour varies by region: African populations bear red, orange, or yellow flowers, while Asian populations have pink, white, yellow, or purple flowers.
Seed Pod Features
After flowering, swollen seed pods form, each holding thousands of dustlike seeds.
Underground Stem Traits
The underground stems are white and rounded, with scale-like leaves, and turn blue when exposed to air.
Root Characteristics
The roots are succulent and rounded, lack root hairs, and grow attached to the root system of a host plant species.
