HABIT	AN ANNUAL OBLIGATE HEMIPARASITE, 15-20 CM TALL.
STEMS	GREEN, SQUARE IN CROSS SECTION, 1-2.5 MM IN DIAMETER. UNDER GROUND STEMS ARE ROUND WITH SCALE LIKE LEAVES AND WHITE, BUT TURN BLUE WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR. THE ROOTS ARE SUCCULENT, ROUND, WITHOUT ROOT HAIRS, AND FOUND ATTACHED TO THE HOST ROOT SYSTEM.
LEAVES	OPPOSITE, NARROW; EACH PAIR BORN AT RIGHT ANGLE TO THE PRECEDING ONE.
FLOWERS	VARIOUSLY COLORED, WHITE, PURPLE, PINK OR RED; BORN IN OPPOSITE PAIRS OR ALTERNATELY IN TERMINAL LEAFY INFLORESCENCE.
FRUITS	LOCULICIDAL CAPSULE, BLACK, ELLIPSOID, 0.4-2 MM, TWO VALVED.
SEEDS	ELLIPTIC, OVATE, OBLONG, OCASSIONALLY D-SHAPED, TRIANGULAR, RHOMBIC OR IRREGULAR; DUST LIKE, 0.2 – 0.6 MM LONG, 0.1 – 0.3 MM WIDE AND THICK. ORANGE TO GOLDEN BROWN OR LIGHT TO DARK BROWN OR GRAY TO BLACKISH.