Minute brownish-green parasite, appearing as pustules on the bark, or erect, up to 8 mm long. Leaves opposite, sheathing, cup-shaped, 1 mm long. Flowers minute, one in each bracteal-cup. Male flower sessile; perianth-lobes 1.5 mm long, obovate. Anthers 2-5, globose, attached to the middle of the perianth lobes, dehiscing transversely. Female flower shortly pedicelled, perianth persistent, lower part adnate to the ovary. Ovary ovoid, 0.5 mm long; stigma conical, sessile, red, persistent. Berry c. 3 mm long, elliptic-ovoid, glabrous. Seed c. 1 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, dispersing explosively.

Fl. Per.: June-Sept.

Type: Described from Kumaon Himalaya, alt. 10,700 ft., on Pinus wallichiana.

Distribution: N.W. Himalaya up to 3500 m. alt. s.m.

This minute parasite causes great damage to trees of Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson (P. excelsa Wall.) especially in the Upper Swat region, and near Astore in the Gilgit Agency in W. Pakistan.