Witchweed

Scientific name: Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze

Synonym: Striga lutea Lour.

Common names: Witchweed, Asiatic witchweed

Native To: Africa and Asia (Werth et al. 1984)

Date of U.S. Introduction: First identified in North Carolina in 1956 (Werth et al. 1984)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Unknown

Impact: Parasitic plant that attacks agricultural crops, including corn, sorghum, sugar cane, and rice (Werth et al. 1984)

Current U.S. Distribution: North Carolina, South Carolina

• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System

Federally Regulated: Federal Noxious Weed (USDA, APHIS - Noxious Weeds Program)

Management Plans: Plants

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Witchweed: Pearl Millet Diseases - Plant Parasites
USDA. ARS. Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution

Striga asiatica Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (Resources)

Striga asiatica - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Watch Out for Witchweed (Oct 1999; PDF | 126 KB)
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution

Striga asiatica - Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S.
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Distribution

Witchweed: A Parasitic Pest (Apr 2000; PDF | 10 KB)
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.
Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Plant Profile for Striga asiatica - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Striga genus - EncycloWeedia
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Striga asiatica scorecard
California Invasive Species Advisory Committee.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Dispersion

Witchweed - Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

You Ain't From Around Here! Exotic Invasive of the Quarter: Witchweed (2011; PDF | 205 KB)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Controlling "Witchweed" in Sub-Saharan Africa - Harnessing the Potential of Public/Private Partnerships, Annual Report 2005 (PDF | 1.3 MB)
African Agricultural Technology Foundation.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Controls

Striga asiatica (PDF | 142 KB)
Caribbean Pest Information Network.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Striga spp. - Data Sheets on Quarantine Pests (DOC | 38 KB)
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion

IAS Toolkit Case study: Co-ordination of Witchweed Eradication in the USA
Global Invasive Species Programme.
Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Weed Profile: Witchweed
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Australia).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Legal Aspects

Striga: Facts and Peculiarities
United Nations Development Programme. Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia.
Identification/Description; Life Cycle; Impacts; Controls

Striga asiatica (herb) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Striga asiatica - Comprehensive Report
NatureServe Explorer.
Taxonomy; Distribution

Striga asiatica
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution

Citations

Werth, C.R., J. L. Riopel and N.W. Gillespie. 1984. Genetic Uniformity in an Introduced Population of Witchweed (Striga asiatica) in the United States. Weed Science. Volume 32:645-648.