[2] The aerial parts of the plant consist of a hard, irregularly shaped tuber from which the flower-bearing structures extend.

Thousands of minute female flowers cover a globe-shaped structure 15–20 millimetres (0.6–0.8 in) in diameter.

[6][7] The species epithet fungosa is the adjectival form of the Latin word fungosus meaning "fungus-like", which refers to the plant's superficial resemblance to a mushroom.

[8] The names of two subspecies are accepted by the Australian Plant Census: Balanophora fungosa subsp.

[15] Numerous small animals visit the flowers, including ants, springtails, flies, a moth of the family noctuidae, and even rats, which appear to be attracted by the smell.