Orobanche cernua is a total root parasite that causes considerable economic losses in various agricultural crops such as vegetables, legumes, sunflower, and tobacco. A review of literature revealed that no comprehensive work on O. cernua parasitism on Allium cepa is reported so far. This study is the first report of nodding broomrape (O. cernua Loefl.) parasitizing onion (A. cepa L.) in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Herbs annual, biennial, or perennial, 15-35(-40) cm tall, densely glandular pubescent, usually with branched fleshy roots. Stems unbranched. Leaves deltate-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1-1.5 cm X 5-7 mm, along with bracts, calyx, and corolla densely glandular pubescent abaxially, glabrescent adaxially. Inflorescences spicate, 5-20(-30) cm; bract ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1-1.5 cm X 5-6 mm; bractlets absent. Calyx campanulate, 1-1.2 cm, irregularly 2-parted to base; segments 2-lobed, rarely entire; lobes linear, 2 longer than others. Corolla 1-2.2 cm; tube pale yellow or dark blue-purple, distinctly enlarged, turned into a rounded curve or suberect, constricted upward; upper lip 2-lobed; lower lip slightly shorter than upper; lobes pale purple or pale blue, subrounded. Filaments 7-9 mm, glabrous or pubescent basally; anthers ovoid, 1-1.2 mm, glabrous. Ovary ovoid-oblong. Style 6-8 mm; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule oblong or oblong-ellipsoid, 1-1.2 cm X 5-7 mm. Seeds long ellipsoid, 0.4-0.5 X ca. 0.2 mm. It can develop an invasive root system.
This plant might be poisonous
