Aerial stem-parasitic shrubs, often robust, with epicortical runners bearing secondary haustoria. Leaves opposite. Inflorescences axillary, a more or less sessile involucrate head of 1-few decussate pairs of flowers on a short floral axis; involucral bracts decussate, enlarged, rigid, often keeled, brightly coloured, imbricate, tightly enclosing the developing flowers, the lower ones sterile and the upper ones subtending the flowers; lateral bracts 2 enclosing each flower. Corolla mostly 6-merous, gamopetalous, regular or nearly so, often more deeply split on one side. Anthers basifixed, immobile, often spurred at the base. Style simple, conical at the base, articulate above the base, with a knob-like stigma. Fruit ellipsoid to obovate. Fig. 32.
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