Aerial stem-parasitic shrubs with epicortical runners bearing secondary haustoria. Leaves opposite. Inflorescences axillary, a few-fiowered spike; axis decussately flattened, with the flowers inserted in hollows; bracts 3 under each flower, foliaceous and together enclosing the flower bud. Corolla 6-merous, gamopetalous, regular or nearly so. Anthers basifixed, immobile. Style simple, conical at the base, with a knob-like stigma. Fruit almost globular. Fig. 25.
Fls perfect, cymosely arranged; outer tepals reduced to truncate or toothed rim to receptacle; inner connivent to connate into tube, splitting into 5-6, us. highly coloured segs. Anthers basifixed, style filiform, stigma clavate to capitate. Ovary adnate to receptacle, ± 2-several-celled. Fr. globose to broad-cylindric. Hemiparasitic shrubs with us. opp., coriac. lvs. About 50 spp. from India to Malaya, Polynesia, Australia. The N.Z. spp. endemic.