PLANTS: Stem parasites. STEMS: not apparent, reduced to a network within the host tissues. LEAVES: reduced to small bracts subtending flowers. FLOWERS: imperfect, minute; sepals 4-5; anthers of staminate flowers sessile on column under margin of disk; ovary of pistillate flower inferior, locule 1; stigmas in ring along disk-like margin of expanded column. FRUITS: fleshy capsules. NOTES: Ca. 20 spp.; tropical Amer., Afr., sw Asia (esp. Iran), and Australia. (Latin: pilos = hair + stylos = pillar or stylus). Only the flowers and bracts are visible on the surface of the host stems. It is not known whether plants of this genus are monoecious or dioecious. REFERENCES: Yatskeivych, George. 1994. Rafflesiaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 27(2), 239.
