Observational study on the parasitic plants of the Banaras Hindu University main campus

Abstract

An observational study was conducted to explore the parasitic plants growing on the Banaras Hindu University main campus, India. A total of 4 species belonging to 4 genera and 3 families were reported from the main university campus, of which 2 were stem parasites and 2 were root parasites. Of the recorded species, Cuscuta reflex a and Orobanche aegyptiaca were holoparasites, while the Dendrophthoe falcata and Striga asiatica were hemiparasites. Among these Dendrophthoe falcata was the most common parasitic plant on the Banaras Hindu University campus.