Aeginetia L.

Family: Orobanchaceae

Disseminule:  Seed

Description

Note: this description is primarily based on the morphology of three species.

Fruit a capsule with numerous seeds. Seeds elliptic, ovate, wedge-shaped or oblong; tiny, dustlike, 0.05-0.35 mm long, 0.03-0.26 mm wide and thick. Straw-colored to light brown. Surface reticulate, reticulations large, high-walled, with finer reticulations visible below. Embryo very small, endosperm present.

Identification remarks

Orobanchaceae species are closely related to those in the Scrophulariaceae. Compare Aeginetia with very small seeds of other parasitic plants on the federal noxious weed list:

Orobanche L.

Striga Lour.

Distribution

Indian subcontinent, China, Japan, and Korea, through Southeast Asia to New Guinea.

Habitat

Low mountain slopes, grassy lowlands, wet, swampy ground, forests, roadsides.

General information

The genus Aeginetia comprises ca. three species. These plants are annual root parasites lacking chlorophyll, up to 50 cm tall. Aeginetia indica L. parasitizes bamboo roots, short grasses and crops such as rice, maize and sugarcane.

Aeginetia indica L.  Seeds

Aeginetia indica. A, Seed; B, longitudinal section of seed showing embryo; C, transection of seed

drawing by Lynda E. Chandler

Aeginetia japonica.  Seeds

Aeginetia japonica.  Seeds, detail

Aeginetia sp.  Seeds

Aeginetia sp.  Seeds, detail