The flowers and small scales of Hyobanche sanguinea resembling leaves are the only above-ground plant parts, ranging from pink-purple to various shades of red. The corolla shape varies according to the region in which the plant is found. Underground there is a fleshy component attached to the root of a host plant.

The Hyobanche genus of the Orobanchaceae or broomrape family represents parasite species found in southern Africa.

H. sanguinea grows in the fynbos as well as in the Karoo (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bean and Johns, 2005; www.biosci.ohio-state.edu).