"Cassytha" is unusual among Lauraceae in at least two respects: they are scandent herbaceous plants, and they are obligate parasites. Their stems are thread-like or wiry, and like most twining species, they twine round the host clockwise as seen from the source of growth. The vines generally turn yellowish once they have established themselves on a productive host because they then reduce or stop their production of chlorophyll. "Cassytha" species are stem parasites, adhering to their hosts by haustoria that generally are small and oblong. Their leaves are without stipules, alternate, simple, and easily overlooked, being minute and scale-like.