Orobanchaceae

Aeginetia L.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser & John Edward Matulina Villasis, 28 July 2024
  1. Aeginetia acaulis (Roxb.) Walp., Repert. Bot. Syst. (Walpers) 3 (1844) 481; ≡ Orobanche acaulis Roxb., Pl. Coromandel 3 (1820) 89; Type: from India. = Aeginetia pedunculata Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3 (1831-1832) 13; Parnell, Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 27 (2001) 75. Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: ?Rizal, Tarlac. Notes: Deciduous dipterocarp and bamboo forests, and grasslands, 50–1100m (Parnell 2001, 2012). Sometimes a pest in sugarcane plantations. Root holoparasite on Themeda and other grasses; rare. Fl. Apr-Dec. Considered extinct in Pakistan. Native.
  2. Aeginetia indica L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 63; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 448; Yang & Lu in Huang (ed.), Fl. Taiwan ed. 2 (1998) 327; Type: from India. Distribution: Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Java, Korea, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. CATANDUANES (photos), LEYTE, LUZON: Abra, Albay, Apayao (photos), Aurora, Batangas, Benguet, Cagayan (photos), Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Rizal, Zambales, MINDORO (photos), PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: Root holoparasite on coarse grasses such as Miscanthus. Sometimes a pest in sugarcane plantations and rainfed rice paddies without standing water at low and medium elevation. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
    • ssp. indica. Distribution: Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Java, Korea, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. CATANDUANES (photos), LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Apayao (photos), Aurora, Benguet, Cagayan (photos), Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, MINDORO (photos), PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: Mainly in grasslands, deciduous dipterocarp and bamboo forests, on granite or limestone substrata, and in areas beside or near streams, up to 1600m. Fl. May-Nov. Morphologically variable throughout its range (Parnell, 2012). Native.
  3. Aeginetia selebica Bakh., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, 3rd Sér. 13 (1933) 89. Distribution: Philippines, Sulawesi. PANAY. Notes: Root holoparasite on Imperata cylindrica. In lowland rain forests and grasslands, particularly cogonales, at low and medium elevation; rare. This species is insufficiently known. Fl. May-Dec. Native.

Alectra Thunb.

Last edited by Pieter B. Pelser, 16 February 2026
  1. Alectra sessiliflora (Vahl) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2 (1891) 458; Morawetz & Wolfe, Syst. Bot. 36 (2011) 146; ≡ Gerardia sessiliflora Vahl, Symb. Bot. (Vahl) 3 (1794) 79; Type: from South Africa. = Alectra avensis (Benth.) Merr., PJS 12c (1917) 109; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 441, as ‘arvensis’; Liu in Huang, Fl. Taiwan ed. 2, 4 (1998) 583; ≡ Glossostylis avensis Benth., Scroph. Ind. (1835) 49; Type: from Myanmar. Distribution: Africa, Bangladesh, China, India, Indian Ocean, Java, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Madagascar, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Taiwan. LUZON: Abra (photos), Benguet, Zambales (photos). Notes: Root hemiparasite. In riverine and pine forests, forest margins, rocky grassy areas, and open grasslands on mountain slopes and cultivation areas. (?-)750m (photos) to 2750m. Fl. Aug-May. Native.

Buchnera L.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser & John Edward Matulina Villasis, 28 July 2024
  1. Buchnera tomentosa Blume, Bijdr. fl. Ned. Ind. (1826) 741. ≠ Buchnera urticifolia auct. non R.Br.; Merr., EPFP 3 (1923) 442. Distribution: Australia, Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, New Guinea, Philippines. ?BOHOL, CULION, LUZON: Albay, Benguet, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Pangasinan, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, Lanao, MINDORO, ?PANAY. Notes: Root hemiparasite in low and medium elevation dry grasslands, ascending to 1400m. John Edward Matulina Villasis (28-Jul-24): Populations from Bohol and Visayas might belong to Buchnera tomentosa as well. Native.

Possibly present

  1. Buchnera ciliata Pennell, J. Arnold Arbor. 24 (1943) 263. Distribution: Australia, New Guinea, ?Philippines. ?CULION. Notes: Possibly represented in the Philippines by BS 41354 Lopez (L).
  2. Buchnera gracilis R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 437; Type: from Australia. Distribution: Australia, ?Philippines. ?HERMANA MAYOR, ?LUZON: ?Albay, ?Benguet, ?Zambales. Notes: John Edward Matulina Villasis (28-Jul-24): Possibly represented in the Philippines by Cuming 978 (K), Loher 4355 (K), Merrill 4448 (K), and Santos 6173 (L) and 6184 (L). Wilkie, Fuentes, Argent, and Mendum 99235 (L) from Zambales attributed to Buchnera ciliata: “Herb with basal rosette of purplish leaves. Flowers white from unbranched erect stems” are perhaps Buchnera gracilis, which has purplish basal leaves and white flowers. Fl. Feb-Dec.
  3. Buchnera linearis R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 437; Type: from Australia. Distribution: Australia, New Guinea, ?Philippines. ?LUZON: ?Zambales, ?PANAY. Notes: John Edward Matulina Villasis (28-Jul-24): Possibly represented in the Philippines by Loher 6636 (K) and Vidal 3377 (K). Plant in Micholitz s.n. (K) is attributed to this species, but with an uncertain locality description: ‘Tooalina’? Fl. Feb-Aug.
  4. Buchnera urticifolia R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 437; Type: from Australia. Distribution: Australia, New Guinea, ?Philippines. ?CULION, ?LUZON: ?Zambales, ?MINDORO. Notes: John Edward Matulina Villasis (28-Jul-24): Possibly represented in the Philippines by Merrill 474 (?K, L), PNH Conklin 17421 (L), and BS Ramos & Edaño 44766 (L). Fl. Mar-Aug.

Centranthera R.Br.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser, 9 November 2025
  1. Centranthera cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., Trans. New York Acad. Sci., N.S. 24 (1935) 353; Liu in Huang, Fl. Taiwan ed. 2, 4 (1998) 585; ≡ Digitalis cochinchinensis Lour., Fl. Cochinch. (1790) 378. = Centranthera hispida R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. (1810) 438; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 421; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 442. Distribution: Australia, China, India, Indochina, Japan, Java, Korea, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sumatra, Taiwan. BATAN, BOHOL, HERMANA MAYOR, ITBAYAT (photos), LUZON: Abra (photos), Albay, Benguet, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, NCR, Rizal, Zambales, MINDANAO: Davao, SABTANG. Notes: Throughout the Philippines, in most islands and provinces. A root hemiparasite on other plants. Fl. May-Sep. In moist deciduous forests, open grasslands, rice fields, wastelands, swamps, marshes, and seasonally wet areas. (?-)800m (photos) to 1500m. Native.

Christisonia Gardner

Last edited by P.B. Pelser, 2 August 2026
  1. Christisonia scortechinii Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 73 (1904) 205; Van der Ent & Wong, Bot. Stud. 56 (2015) 28:8; Mendez et al., J. New Biol. Reports 7 (2018) 139; Type: from Malay Peninsula. = Christisonia wightii Elmer, LPB 8 (1915) 2793; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 448; Type: Elmer 9510 (PNH, holo, ?lost), Negros: Negros Oriental, Dumaguete, Cuernos Mts. Distribution: Borneo, Java, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam. BASILAN (photos), LUZON: Albay, Cagayan (photos), Laguna (photos), Mountain Province, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte (photos), Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental (photos), South Cotabato (photos), Zamboanga del Sur (photos), NEGROS, PALAWAN (photos). Notes: Records of this species from China were misidentified (Ya et al. 2024). In deciduous, pine, and bamboo forests, usually in deep shade. Usually parasitic on bamboo. Fl. Mar-Dec. 500-1700m. Native.

Euphrasia L.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser & John Edward Matulina Villasis, 28 July 2024
  1. Euphrasia merrillii Du Rietz, Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 25 (1932) 510; Type: Merrill 4720 (NY, holo), Luzon: Benguet, Suyoc to Pauai, Oct/Nov-1905. ≠ Euphrasia borneensis auct. non Stapf; Merr., EPFP 3 (1923) 443, pro parte. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LUZON: Benguet, Mountain Province (photos). Notes: In pine forests and montane grasslands on open places or mountain slopes and on exposed ridges, 2400-2700m. A root hemiparasite on grasses and other plants; rare. Native.
  2. Euphrasia philippinensis Du Rietz, Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 25 (1932) 502; Type: Clemens 16412 (NY, holo), Luzon: Mountain Province, Mt Data, Dec-1925. ≠ Euphrasia borneensis auct. non Stapf; Merr., EPFP 3 (1923) 443, pro parte. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LUZON: Benguet, Mountain Province. Notes: In exposed sites along ridges or on the borders of pine forests and grasslands, 2200m. A root hemiparasite on grasses and other plants. Native.

Lindenbergia Lehm.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser & John Edward Matulina Villasis, 28 July 2024
  1. Lindenbergia philippensis (Cham. & Schltdl.) Benth., Prodr. (A. P. de Candolle) 10 (1846) 377; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 432; Prijanto, Reinwardtia 7: 552; Batuyong et al., Biodiversitas 21 (2020) 3974; ≡ Stemodia philippensis Cham. & Schltdl., Linnaea 3 (1828) 5; Type: s.coll. (IB, K, iso), Luzon. ≠ Stemodia ruderalis auct. non Retz., nec Vahl; Blanco, Fl. Filip. (1837) 498. Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam. CEBU, LUZON: Albay, Apayao, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan (photos), Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, La Union, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Rizal, Zambales, MINDORO, PANAY. Notes: Lithophyte in rocky habitats up to 2600m, e.g., in dry mountain sides, rocky crevices, limestone and granitic cliffs, talus slopes, rocky beds in streams, coastal rocky outcrops, etc., or often next to human settlements, in towns on stone or brick walls. Fl. year-round. This genus is nonparasitic and sister to the entire family Orobanchaceae. Native.

Sopubia Buch.-Ham.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser & John Edward Matulina Villasis, 28 July 2024
  1. Sopubia trifida Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. (1825) 88; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 442; Steenis, Mountain Fl. Java (1972) Pl. 51-2; Type: from Kenya. Distribution: Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Java, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: Benguet, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya (photos), Pangasinan, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, MINDORO. Notes: Root hemiparasite, found chiefly at 1200-2000m on open grassy slopes. Fl. Apr-Jul. Native.

Striga Lour.

Last edited by P.B. Pelser & John Edward Matulina Villasis, 28 July 2024
  1. Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2 (1891) 466; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 442; ≡ Buchnera asiatica L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 630; Type: from Comoro Isls. Distribution: Africa, Asia, Indian Ocean, Philippines. BILIRAN, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay (photos), Benguet, Cagayan (photos), Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Sorsogon, Zambales. Notes: In deciduous forests, open grasslands, crop fields, and disturbed areas up to 2480m. An obligate hemiparasite on the root of wild grasses and crops. It is considered an invasive species in dry, infertile soils in Africa, but less aggressive forms occur in most of southern and southeast Asia with much wetter habitats (CABI 2024). Fl. Sep-Jun. Native.
  2. Striga masuria (Buch.-Ham. ex Benth.) Benth., Compan. Bot. Mag. 1 (1835) 364; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 443; Liu in Huang, Fl. Taiwan ed. 2, 4 (1998) 627; ≡ Buchnera masuria Buch.-Ham. ex Benth., Scroph. Ind. (1835) 41. Distribution: Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: Albay, Benguet, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Rizal. Notes: In open grassy deciduous forests, grasslands, and on calcareous rocks in low and medium elevations, up to 1100m. An obligate hemiparasite on the root of wild grasses. Fl. Jun-Nov. Native.
  3. Striga multiflora Benth., Compan. Bot. Mag. 1 (1835) 363; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 443. Distribution: Australia, Moluccas, Philippines. LUZON: Cagayan, Isabela, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Rizal. Notes: In open grasslands and shrublands at low and medium elevations. An obligate hemiparasite on the root of wild grasses. Fl. Apr-Jun. Native.

References