Apodanthaceae Tiegh. ex Takht.

Fleshy, rootless, acaulous herbs, parasitic in stems of shrubs and trees in families Fabaceae or (not in Australia) Salicaceae, the flowers and fruits visible on the surface. Vegetative plant endophytic, achlorophyllous, filamentous. Leaves absent. Flowers solitary, often grouped in rows, sessile, actinomorphic, unisexual by abortion, bracteate, usually less than 15 mm long. Bracts several to many, imbricate, spirally arranged or verticillate. Perianth monochlamydeous; tepals in 2 or 3 (or 4) whorls, free and imbricate (rarely valvate). Stamens and style fused in a central fleshy gynandroecial column, the apex globose or expanded into a disc.; anthers sessile, in 1–4 series below column apex, unilocular, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary semi-inferior, unilocular; stigmatic zone papillose, globular and terminal or ring-shaped around margin of apical disc. Ovules many, on 4 or 5 parietal placentas. Fruit a berry or capsule. Seeds minute, endospermic.