Common Name:

General Information

Striga hermonthica is an annual, parasitic plant that can grow up to 90cm tall. The stiffly erect stems are usually branched from the middle[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a dye and mordant.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti, south through Ethiopia, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, occ in Angola, Namibia

Habitat

Occasionally found in wild grassland, but most commonly as a parasitic weed of cultivated cereal crops[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

In general, the genus Striga is found in the semi-arid to moist tropics, tolerating a relatively wide range of climatic and soil conditions. It grows in areas with a mean annual rainfall ranging from 250 - 1,500mm per year, with a decrease in the severity of infestation in areas with higher rainfall[].
The plant is not particular to soil type or pH, and can be abundant on lighter soils, as well as on heavy clay soils[].
Striga hermonthica is a major pest problem in agriculture, especially in semi-arid marginal areas, parasitizing cereal crops, especially sorghum, millet, maize and rice[, ]. Globally, the genus Striga has a greater impact on human welfare than any other parasitic angiosperms because their hosts are often subsistence crops in areas marginal for agriculture[]. These furtive pathogens attack their hosts underground and, by the time the flowering stem of the parasite emerges and is evident, the crop is damaged[]. Control of the parasite is difficult to achieve because of the intimate association between the parasitic weed and its host.
The seeds germinate in response to specific germination stimulants exuded by host roots. After germination, a haustorium is formed in the root of the host plant through differentiation of the root apex. A vascular connection is subsequently established between the two plants, allowing the parasite to absorb water and nutrients that are essential for its development[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant is used both as a dye in its own right, and also as a mordant in indigo dyeing, where it is used to deepen the colour[].

Propagation

Seed -

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