Like other species of Indian paintbrush, it is a root parasite.

This species and others in its genus are root parasites, tapping the tissues of nearby plants for nutrients, especially water.

This plant is a root parasite.

This is a root parasite which was known to the Māori as 'Pua-o-te-reinga', 'the flower of the underworld'.

It has been suggested that the pale yellow-green foliage indicates this plant may be a root parasite.

Most are root parasites which photosynthesize their own food, but tap the roots of other species for water and inorganic nutrients.

They are perennial shrubs which act as root parasites on other plants.

Like many species in its family it is a facultative root parasite on other plants, attaching to their roots via haustoria to tap nutrients.

Adults have been recorded on the pink flowers of a root parasite growing on a fig tree.

Adults have been recorded feeding from red flowers of a root parasite.