witchweed

[ wich-weed ]
/ ˈwɪtʃˌwid /

noun

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

Origin of witchweed

First recorded in 1900–05; witch + weed1

British Dictionary definitions for witchweed

witchweed
/ (ˈwɪtʃˌwiːd) /

noun

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