Botanical name

Striga elegans

Other names

Witchweed; rooiblom (Afrikaans); kopseerblom (Afrikaans)

Family

Orobanchaceae, previously Scrophulariaceae

Dimensions

A small annual herb, a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of a large variety of grass species hosts; it typically grows to about 12 to 15 cm in height

Description of stem

Thin, erect, green stem, sometimes branched to a limited extent

Description of leaves

Linear or lanceolate, opposite or nearly so, about 1 cm in length; erect, course and hairy

Description of flowers

Terminal clusters of scarlet tubular flowers, about 1,5 cm in length, appear during summer to autumn; the flower tube is characteristically bent; the petals arranged with a somewhat smaller two or three-lobed upper section and a larger three lower lower section, the central lower lobe or lip being slightly longer; the calyx is prominently veined

Desciption of seed/fruit

Five-sided capsules; the seeds are fine, brown, dust-like

Description of roots

Attaches itself to the roots of a grass plant that functions as host

Variation

A pink flowered variety is known in the Magaliesberg and Suikerbosrand areas

Propagation and cultivation

Can't be done as yet?  Would anybody want to?  In nature the seeds germinate in close proximity to a suitable grass plant's roots (not more than a few mm), for the attachment to the root system to occur

Tolerances

Uses

Indigenous populations have been known to attempt warding off evil by applying the powdered plant to the skin; also used as protection against lightning

Ecological rarity

Common

Pests and diseases

Other

Other striga species, like S. asiatica, hermonthica and gesnerioides affect agricultural crops, but this one does not; the 28 striga species are indigenous to Africa and some to Asia

Location

Open grassland

Distribution (SA provinces)

Free State; Gauteng; Mpumalanga; North West; Limpopo

Country

South Africa; Lesotho; Swaziland; Botswana; Mozambique; Zimbabwe; Tanzania; Malawi; Angola; Zambia; Kenya; DRC

Some info from Wikipedia and www.cdfa.ca.gov