The host tree responds to the presence of Dactylanthus by forming a burl-like structure that resembles a fluted wooden rose (hence the common name).

Common hosts include patē/seven-finger (Schefflera digitata), five-finger (Neopanax arboreus), lemonwood (Pittosporum eugenioides), and putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus).

[5] This growth was once dug up in the thousands, incidentally killing the Dactylanthus, and sold as a collectable, often ending up as "a mantlepiece curiosity.

"[6] It is illegal to collect wood roses from public land, and harvesting this threatened species is strongly discouraged.

[7] The genus name is derived from the Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos), “finger”, and ἄνθος (ánthos), “flower”.

[7] Hill noted that at least in the Taupō region this name referred to a different parasitic plant, Thismia,[8] and claimed the Māori name for Dactylanthus was waewae atua, "feet or toes of the spirits/gods".

[12] Male flowers produce nectar that provides a simple but very sweet fragrance which promotes bat-pollination.

[13] Analysis of fossil coprolites suggest the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus), a flightless nocturnal parrot, was also a pollinator.

[18] The wood rose is under threat from harvesting by collectors, browsing by possums, rats, pigs and deer, habitat loss, and the rarity of its pollinators and seed dispersers.