South Indian Mistletoe is a hairless, parasitic shrub. Oppositely arranged leaves are coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, blunt tipped, base acute. Flowers to 2 cm long, greenish-red, few, in condensed spikes in leaf axils. Peduncle carrying the spike is stout, 5-8 mm long. Bracts are to 5 mm long, ovate, acute or apiculate. Sepal tube is 5 mm long. Flowers variegated in bud, tube 7 mm long, reddish, broad upwards, more or less straight. Six petals, to 1.3 cm long, spoon-shaped, turned back, greenish. Six stamens protrude out of the flower. Flowering: April-May.