Parasitic herbs with thread-like yellow, orange or brown stems. Leaves reduced to small scales. Flowers small, bracteolate, bisexual. Perianth 6-parted; 3 outer smaller than 3 inner. Style well-developed, subcapitate. Fruit completely enclosed in the fleshy receptacle. Worldwide: 20 species in the Old World tropics, especially Australia Caprivi: 1 cultivated taxon. |