It is a woody shrub up to 1.8 m endemic to the remote, densely forested areas of New Caledonia, first discovered and described by Vieillard in 1861.

[2] Molecular phylogenetic analysis also suggest affinities between Parasitaxus and the genera Manoao (New Zealand) and Lagarostrobos (Tasmania).

[4] However, a genome analysis shows that many genes for photosynthesis are missing from the parasite's plastid genome,[5] strongly suggesting that Parasitaxus completely depends on its host for survival.

It is generally mentioned that Parasitaxus usta is the only known parasitic gymnosperm.

The first study of the union of P. usta with a host showed anatomical changes typical of a parasite.