Perennial herb. 2’ tall x 2’ wide. Widely distributed in California and northern Baja California in chaparral, rocky desert, mountain slopes and coastal sage scrub. Parasitic or semi-parasitic on a variety of small shrubs such as Chamise, Golden Yarrow, Sagebrush, Monkeyflower. The flower cluster, made up of layers of leaves tipped in bright orange-red to dull yellowish green, appear in winter and spring. The small, nondescript flowers are greenish and emerge between the colorful leaves.