Achlorophyllous, mycotrophic, perennial herb. Stems erect, unbranched, to 170 cm, dark reddish-brown, densely glandular hairy; stalks hardened, persistent, drying dark brown. Leaves scale-like, alternate, sessile, lance-shaped, reddish-brown. Inflorescence a crowded, elongate, terminal raceme of numerous, nodding flowers. Flowers hypogynous, 5-merous; calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, red, glandular-hairy; corolla urn-shaped, lobes revolute, yellowish, glabrous; stamens 10; ovary superior. Fruit a globose, 5-chambered capsule (Stickney in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).