[5][6][7] It is a facultative hemiparasite and needs open conditions and regular grazing of larger shrubs and grasses to grow.

[1] E. vigursii can be identified by its bright reddish-purple flowers and long glandular hairs on its upper leaves.

[7] It has dull grey-green leaves, often permeated with violet or black due to anthocyanins.

[10] E. vigursii is endemic to the Agrostis curtisii-Ulex galli heathlands of South West England,[9][11] specifically Cornwall and Devon.

[7] The largest global population of E. virgusii is believed to be Lydford High Down in Dartmoor National Park, Devon,[7][11] which had 21,000 instances in 2002.