Stout, fleshy parasitic perennial up to 20cm. Leaves scale-like, lacking chlorophyll; flowers sparsely hairy in long dense racemes, tubular, orange with a yellow throat, short petals about 4cm long; stigma knob-like.

Most likely pollinated by sunbirds.

The host plants of this root parasite are usually restios of the genus Willdenowia and daisies in the genus Othonna.