Herbs perennial, parasitic, reddish brown, without chloropyll, monoecious, rarely polygamous. Root fleshy. Stem simple or branched, cylindric. Leaves spiral, scalelike, caducous. Flowers densely gathered into a terminal, spadix, minute. Perianth lobes (1-)4-6(-8). Stamen 1. Ovary inferior, 1-loculed; ovule 1, pendulous; style simple, reduced to a nectary in male flowers. Fruit a nutlet.

Wan Wenhao. 2000. Cynomoriaceae. In: Chen Chiajui, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 53(2): 152-154.

One genus and two species: from the Mediterranean region through SW and C Asia to Mongolia and NC China; one species in China.

(Authors: Chen Jiarui (陈家瑞 Chen Chia-jui); A. Michele Funston)