Densely branched, nearly leafless, hemiparasitic shrublet up to 30cm. Leaves of 2 kinds, few and terete below, small and lanceolate above, decurrent (leaf base prolonged down the stem as a winged expansion); flowers sessile (without flower stalks), few, crowded in terminal clusters, whitish.

Latin: commuto = to change, alter: referring to the 2 different kinds of leaves of this species.