General:
Perennial herb from a fleshy, short rhizome; parasites on mycorrhizal fungi associated with trees; "stems" erect, simple, 3-15 cm tall, stout, waxy, glabrous; pinkish when fresh, drying to brownish; not persistent after seed dispersal; without chlorophyll.

Leaves:
Scale-like, to 2 cm long, partly overlapping like shingles, thin, oval to oblong, margins irregular and fringed with hairs.

Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, short, head-like, compressed spike; calyces and corollas similar in texture and colour; about equal in length, pinkish when fresh, drying to brownish; corollas tubular bell-shaped, 12-20 mm long, often unequally lobed, lobes 4 (5), densely hairy inside; sepals (2) 4, oblong, 12-18 mm long, lateral 2 often folded, clasping corolla; filaments densely hairy; anthers 1-2 mm long, unawned.

Fruits:
Berry-like capsules, egg-shaped, to 1 cm long, hairy.

Notes:
Stem and leaves can be considered part of the inflorescence.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Newberrya congesta Torr.