In this notably pale pink Hyobanche sanguinea parasitic herb the corolla top is hooded over the exposed, white floral part and slit down one side.

The conspicuous white organ is the style that brought the plant the Afrikaans name of katnaels (cat nails). The English common name is snail flower, slowly growing but otherwise immobile.

There are five hairy sepal lobes in two pairs and one free in these curious flowers. There are also four stamens in each bisexual flower, the stamens grown in two pairs of unequal length and each having only a single anther lobe (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).