Mohamed, K.I. & L.J. Musselman. (2006) Striga in Flora of Somalia 3: 287-289
Plants annual or perennial hemiparastic herbs, hirsute, pilose, or scabrous; stems simple or branched above midlength, stiffly erect, square or terete. Leaves opposite or subopposite, basal leaves reduced to small scales. Inflorescences dense or open terminal spikes or racemes. Calyces tubular, (4-)5(-8) lobed; calyx lobes equal or subequal; corollas tubular, tubes cylindrical with an acute bend; corolla limbs 2-lipped, upper lips 2-fid or emarginates, lower lips 3-lobed; stamens 4, 2 long and 2 short, included; anthers with only 1 theca each; ovaries superior, 2-celled, with numerous ovules; styles persistent; stigmas clavate. Fruits oblong or ovoid capsules with longitudinal dehiscence; seeds dustlike, minute, with prominent ornamented ridges.
Striga includes about 40 species, all of which are native to the Old World tropics.
Hemiparasitic plants, unlike holoparasitic plants (which are often just called parasitic), are green and can photosynthesize but they require a host plant for their growth and development.
Species of Striga are among the most specialized of all root parasites and some of them cause severe damage to cultivated crops, especially in semi-arid regions of Africa.
