Herbs, perennial, achlorophyllous, holomycotrophic, rhizomatous, with fine filamentous roots which ramify for long distances through leaf litter. Stem(s) unbranched, to 40 cm high, pale red, purplish to flesh-coloured to white. Leaves alternate, usually 4–6, amplexicaul, small and often scale-like (appearing leafless), occasionally up to 70 mm long. Flowers solitary, terminal, bisexual. Perianth of 6 tepals in 2 whorls, zygomorphic; posterior tepal large, broad, sometimes with basal callus; other tepals linear-filiform. Stamens 6; filaments short, connate basally and also fused with the base of the style to form a column-like structure; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing via longitudinal slits; pollen 1-aperturate. Gynoecium syncarpous, 3-carpellate; ovary unilocular; ovules numerous; style absent or short; stigmas 3. Fruit reflexed, capsular, with 3 valves opening to the base and spreading outwards at maturity. Seeds numerous, very small, dust-like, spindle-like, winged, with placentas detaching from the outer walls and the seeds hanging from long thread-like funicles; embryo rudimentary at time of release.
High rainfall montane forests where there is an accumulation of surface litter. Most species grow in areas of difficult access, have a short or limited flowering period, are only above ground when flowering or fruiting, and their life cycle is intimately associated with periods of heavy rainfall. (Jones & Gray 2008: 717).
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