Texas Invasives

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Federal Noxious Weed

TDA Noxious Weed

TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species

Invasive Plant Atlas of the US

NOTE:

means species is on that list.

Orobanche ramosa

Hemp broomrape

Synonym(s): Phelipanche ramosa
Family: Orobanchaceae (Broom-Rape Family)
Duration and Habit: Annual Herb

Photographer: USDA APHIS Archives, Bugwood.org
Source: USDA APHIS

Description

The hemp broomrape (Orobranche ramosa) is an annual or perennial parasitic plant. The seedlings grow below the ground forming a yellow juvenile plant that is shaped like a spike. Once maturity is reached the plant is 4-12 inches tall with pale to bright yellow coloring. The stems are slender and covered with short hairs. This plant often has many branches arising from the base with leaves similar to scales that alternate along the stem. This plant blooms in October and November with blue/violet flowers similar to a snap dragon.

Native Lookalikes: Currently no information available here yet, or there are no native Texas species that could be confused with Hemp broomrape.

Ecological Threat: Hemp broomrape is a worldwide noxious parasite of many crops and associated weeds. Heavy infestations can severely damage crops.

Biology & Spread: Reproduces by seed. Seed disperses with human activities, farm machinery, water, and wind. It also spreads by clonal offshoots from its rhizomes and by seed. The seeds are yellow-brown in color and angular, or egg shaped.

History: Orobanche ramosa is native to the Mediterranean area of southern Europe but has been spread to a number of other parts of the world.

U.S. Habitat: Ornamental and vegetable crop fields (especially tomato fields), developed areas, farms, urban parks and vacant lands.

Distribution

U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.

Native Origin: Introduced from Europe

U.S. Present: CA, IL, KY, NC, NJ, TX

Distribution in Texas: Central Texas

Mapping

Invaders of Texas Map: Orobanche ramosa
EDDMapS: Orobanche ramosa
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Orobanche ramosa

Invaders of Texas Observations

List All Observations of Orobanche ramosa reported by Citizen Scientists

OBS# 12372

OBS# 2951

OBS# 24797

Native Alternatives

There are several native broomrapes in California, a few of which are uncommon to rare, but only Cooper's broomrape occurs in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts and is a weed of vegetable crops. Unlike branched broomrape, native broomrapes have 5-lobed calyces.

Management

Hand pulling plants, plowing under trap crops before seed production, or burying seed with one deep inversion plowing can help control infestations.

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.

Text References

Dhanapal, G. N., P. C. Struik, M. Udayakumar, and J. M. Timmermans. 1996. Management of Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) - A review. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 175:335-359.

Foy, C. L., R. Jain, and R. Jacobsohn. 1989. Recent approaches for chemical control of broomrape (Orobanche spp.). Reviews in Weed Science 4:123-152.

Holm, L., J. Doll, E. Holm, J. Pancho, and J. Herberger. 1997. Obligate parasitic weeds: Orobanche ramosa L., and Orobanche minor Sm. In 'World Weeds: Natural Histories and Distribution' pp. 511-530 (John Wiley & Sons Inc: New York).

Mitich, L. W. 1993. Orobanche-The Broomrapes. Weed Technology 7:532-535.

Musselman, L. J. 1980. The biology of Striga, Orobanche, and other root-parasitic weeds. Annual Reviews of Phytopathology 18:463-489.

Stout, G. L. 1938. A recurrence of broomrape (Orobanche ramosa L.) on tomato plants in California. California Department of Agriculture Bulletin 27(2):166-171.

Online Resources

Encycloweedia, California Department of Food and Agriculture

https://extension.psu.edu/the-noxious-persistent-invasive-and-perennial-bindweeds

https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/hedge-bindweed