Yellowish to reddish parasites with unisexual inflorescences. Tuber cylindrical, c. 1 cm ø, swollen up to 3 cm ø at the point of contact with host root, densely patently hairy, less so at swollen parts. Inflorescences surrounded at base by a 5-8-lobed sheath. Inflorescence-bearing stem obconical, 2½-5 cm long, in upper part 3-5 cm ø, in lower part c. 1 cm ø, with numerous adpressed, pergamentaceous, imbricate, scaly leaves. Leaves creamy stramineous to reddish with brown tips, lower ones triangular ½ by ½ cm, upper ones narrowly triangular, up to 5 by 1 cm. ♂ Inflorescence carrying among the flowers reduced, reddish scales with a papillose base. ♂ Flowers 1 cm by 3 mm when not expanded, creamy yellow. Pedicels ¾ cm. Tepals (2-)3, elliptic, boat-shaped, valvate, c. ¾ cm by 3 mm. Stamens (2-)3, epitepalous, filaments united into a tube c. 2½ mm long. Anthers with their connectives united up to ⅓ of their length, ovate-elliptic, emarginate at the base, rounded at apex, c. 4 by 2 mm, 2-celled and horseshoe-shaped with the bend upwards. ♀ Flowers inserted very close to each other, apparently laterally connate in lower parts. Style up to halfway surrounded by a tubular, apically shortly 4-6-lobed perianth up to 1.3 by 0.4 mm; exserted part of the style c. 1.3 by 0.2 mm, surface cells somewhat swollen. Ovary apparently without cavity. The diaspore consists of embryo + endosperm surrounded by 2-3 layers of sclereid cells and is dispersed upon the decay of the infructescence.
Parasitizing roots of Vaccinium sp. (Eric.), Eugenia sp., Metrosideros eugenioides (SCHLTR) STEEN. (Myrt.) and Meliosma pinnata (ROXB.) WALP. (Sab.). Upper part of flowering heads appears above humus layer in Nothofagus forest at 1500 m.
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