witchweed: Striga asiatica (Scrophulariales: Scrophulariaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

witchweed	USDA PLANTS Symbol: STAS2 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs Parasitic and Epiphytic Plants
Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze

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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Scrophulariales: Scrophulariaceae
Synonym(s): Asiatic witchweed
Appearance Striga asiatica is a parasitic plant that can infest agricultural crops and has been found in North and South Carolina. Plants are normally 6-12 in. (15.2-30.5 cm) tall but have grown to 24 in. (61 cm). Foliage Leaves of Striga asiatica are linear and around 1 in. (2.5 cm) long. Flowers Striga asiatica flowers are small, less than 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) in diameter, occur in or on loose spikes, and can vary greatly in color from white to yellow, red, or purple. Fruit The flowers give way to swollen seed pods that contain thousands of microscopic seeds per pod. Ecological Threat Striga asiatica can parasitize important agricultural crops such as corn, sorghum, sugar cane and rice. The host plant's nutrients are depleted and energy is spent supporting the parasitic witchweed. Infestations reduce yields and contaminate crops. Witchweed is native to Asia and Africa and was first identified in the United States, in the Carolinas, in 1955. It is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Fact Sheet - USDA APHIS PPQ
Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S. - USDA-APHIS

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Florida Division of Plant Industry , Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Florida Division of Plant Industry , Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Florida Division of Plant Industry , Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Florida Division of Plant Industry , Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); underground attachment USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Control; spraying for witchweed control USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Control; Witchweed sprayer USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation; July, 1984; Marion Langston (Right), showing corn stunted by witchweed infestation. Randy Westbrooks, Invasive Plant Control, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); Seed. FNW taxon. Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); Seeds. FNW taxon. Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); Seeds. FNW taxon. Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources:

South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council