Purple Witchweed is a root hemiparasite of wild and cultivated legumes, among which cowpea (lobiya) is a suitable host. Usually found on sandy soil. It is a small erect herb, about 15-30 cm high. It parasitic root are tuberous. Many erect, fleshy stems are reddish purple and tapering. Leaves are like scales, dark reddish purple, serve as flower bracts. Numerous pink, stalkless flowers occur in erect densely flowered spikes. Flower tube is 1 cm long and curved. The flower is 2-lipped - the upper lip is deeply divided, and the lower one is 3-lobed. Flowering: August-January.