Within this family it belongs to the Galetae group, which is characterized by a long inflorescence axis and boat shaped nectaries.

In the middle of the inflorescence is a discoid circle (or single-whorled umbel) of about twenty tubular tetramerous flowers.

Below these is a second set of bracts very different from the reflective ones These are modified into extrafloral nectaries which is why the bats are interested, and can be enlisted as pollinators.

Marcgravia evenia relies on Monophyllus, a Cuban nectar-feeding bat,[4] for pollination.

This plant has evolved bowl shaped leaves which act as reflectors for a bat's biosonar.