Plants green, semi-parasitic on tree-trunks and branches, dioecious, dichotomously branched, branches jointed. Leaves scale-like. Flowers minute, unisexual; bract cup-shaped. Male perianth 2-5 lobed; anthers sessile, single-lobed. Female perianth 2-lobed, tubular below. Ovary inferior. Fruit a berry. Seed 1, surrounded by mucilage.