Weed Identification

Australia > > Branched Broomrape

Branched Broomrape

Orobanche ramosa

IMPORTANT: IF YOU SUSPECT THE PRESENCE OF THIS PLANT, PLEASE REPORT IT BY CALLING 1800 084 881 (local call cost anywhere in Australia)
or
REPORT IT ONLINE.

Family: Orobanchaceae or Scrophulariaceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of southern Europe, western Asia, Middle East and northern Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowers: Pale blue, tubular and two-lipped with lower lip three-lobed and upper lip shallowly two-lobed. An erect spike of flowers appears in spring and summer.

Description: Mature plants to about 20 cm tall with several branches from ground level. Stems with dense soft woolly hairs on the upper part. Leaves reduced to a few brown scales to 8 mm long. Capsule enclosed in persistent corolla. Seeds pepper-like, up to 40,000 per plant.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by branched yellow-brown glandular-hairy stems; absence of green parts; blue flowers.

Dispersal: Spread by seed.

Confused With: Other species of Orobanche in Australia; see a specialist to confirm identification.


Broomrape parasitising Capeweed, SA
photo PIRSA

Notes: Parasitic on many broadleaved plants; known hosts in Australia are Canola, Carrot, Lettuce, Tomato, Capeweed, Vetch and Medic. Seeds remain viable for up to 10 years in soil, and germination is stimulated by plant root exudates. Seeds germinate underground and the seedling needs to attach to a suitable host root for further growth. Plant dies within a few weeks of appearing above ground but the dried plant may remain visible for several months. In 2000 it was reported as scattered across a 70 x 70 km area near Murray Bridge, South Australia. Weed of broadleaved crops in other countries.

References:

    Plant Protection Quarterly. R. Carter and D. Cooke, 1994, Vol. 9, pages 61–63. Farmer Alert, Keep Your Markets Safe, Grains Research Development Council, 2000.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

Lipped mauve flower, Fresno, California
photo B. Fischer
Right, tomato root
Left, Broomrape stem
photo B. Fischer
Plant drying off after flowering
photo PIRSA

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card H07

More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia > > Branched Broomrape

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