SafePlants

Aeginetia indica - Forest Ghost Flower

Aeginetia indica, belonging to the Orobanchaceae family, is commonly known as Forest Ghost Flower. It's also referred to as "ye gu" in some regions.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a root parasite.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Aeginetia indica L.
• Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape family)
• Synonyms:
  • Orobanche aeginetia Linnaeus
  • Phelipaea indica (Linnaeus) Sprengel ex Steudel
  • Aeginetia boninensis Nakai
  • Aeginetia indica var. gracilis Nakai
  • Aeginetia indica var. sekimotoana
  • Aeginetia abbreviata Walp
  • Aigenetia pedunculata (artwork name)

Distribution and Habitat

• Aeginetia indica is found throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, including:
  • India
  • Sri Lanka
  • China
  • Japan
  • Southeast Asia
  • Philippines
  • Bangladesh
  • Myanmar
  • Cambodia
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
• It thrives in shaded forest floors, particularly during the monsoon season, and in moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.
• It has been found at altitudes between 600 and 1700 meters.

Morphological Characteristics

• Aeginetia indica is a leafless, parasitic, perennial herb.
• The stems typically grow to a height of 10-40 cm, but can reach up to 50 cm.
• The flowers are large and can be solitary or clustered at the stem apex.
• It grows on the roots of various grasses and bamboo.

Traditional and Potential Uses

• In traditional Chinese medicine, Aeginetia indica (Guan-Jen-Huang, GJH) has been used as a traditional herb.
• Research suggests it may have immunomodulatory and antitumor properties.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Aeginetia indica is a holoparasitic herb, meaning it obtains all its nutrients from a host plant, primarily through the roots of grasses.
• It grows on the roots of various grasses, and bamboo.

Resources and Further Information

• eFloras.org: http://www.efloras.org (Reference for Aeginetia indica)
• The Plant List: Provides accepted species names for the genus Aeginetia.
• IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
• Australian Plant Name Index
• Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)
• NYBG (New York Botanical Garden)
• Discover Life