Orobanchaceae FAMILY
Striga gesnerioides
Striga gesnerioides
Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Striga gesnerioides is a parasitic, succulent, annual or occasionally perennial plant that can grow up to 35cm tall. The erect stem usually branches from the base. Each plant has a single, large, tuberous primary haustorium 1 - 3cm in diameter, and with numerous adventitious roots emerging from subterranean scales. The plant is an obligate root parasite with low photosynthetic activity[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and dye.
Habitat & Origin
Origintropical
Native RangeWidespread through tropical Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands and tropical Asia.
HabitatOpen grassland, savannah with scattered trees, on rocky hills and most abundantly as a weed in crops, especialy on light, sandy soils[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].