Monoecious or dioecious, shrubby, glabrous plants with articulated stems, parasitic on
dicotyledons, rarely gymnosperms. Leaves decussate, sometimes well-developed or reduced to scales. Inflorescence a dichasium subtended
by a ± fused pair of scale-like bracts (the bracteal cup). Flowers (3-)4-merous. Fruit an indehiscent berry. Worldwide: 65 species in the Old World tropics and temperate regions Botswana: 4 taxa. |
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