Invasive Plant – Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.)
Family
Orobanchaceae
Distribution in Canada
Orobanche aegyptiaca, O. cernua, O. crenata, O. cumana, O. hederae, O. minor and O. ramosa are not found in Canada.
Common native species found in Canada are
- O. fasciculata: Yukon Territories, British Columbia, Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba and Ontario
- O. ludoviciana: British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan and Manitoba
- O. uniflora: (all provinces except British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland)
Duration of life cycle
Annual or perennial
Seed/Fruit type
True seed
Seed identification features
Size
- length: 0.2 to 0.5 mm
- width: 0.1 to 0.3 mm
Shape
- outline variation: oval, oblong, teardrop- or wedge-shaped
Surface texture
- surface is covered in deep cells (usually glossy), but a few have a floury coating within the cells (O. ramosa)
Colour
- pale yellow (immature)
- golden yellow (common)
- orange
- brown
Other structures
- without magnification, seeds appear as dust particles
Similar species
Witchweed (Striga spp.)
- found only in the southeastern United States
- similar to Orobanche spp. in small size, colour and shape
- surface texture of Striga spp. is composed of concentric ridges, not cells (as in Orobanche spp.)
Photos
Similar species
