witchweed

American  

[wich-weed] / ˈwɪtʃˌwid /

noun

1. an Old World parasitic plant of the genus Striga, introduced into the southern U.S.: a serious pest of corn and other grass crops.

---

witchweed British  

/ ˈwɪtʃˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of several scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Striga , esp S. hermonthica , that are serious pests of grain crops in parts of Africa and Asia

---

Etymology

Origin of witchweed

First recorded in 1900–05; witch + weed ¹

Example Sentences

In sub-Saharan Africa, the invasive witchweed is responsible for annual maize losses amounting to $7bn.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2010

After a month of underground parasitic life, the witchweed makes a partial reform, like a successful mobster who buys a legitimate business and joins the church.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then a graduate student from India took a careful look at the sick corn and recognized among its roots the underground stems of witchweed, which had never before invaded the Western Hemisphere.

From Time Magazine Archive