Flowering stem slender, 10–35 cm tall. Leaf-blade slender, suberect, green with purple base, to c. 20 cm long, 5.5 mm diam. at base. Flowers banded red-brown and yellow-green, 5–20 in a loose to moderately dense raceme to 10 cm long; ovary pyriforme, to 5 mm long; pedicel to 1 mm long, inclined to rachis at c. 30 deg.; sepals 7–9 mm long, lanceolate, lateral sepals free, broad at base and tapering to an acuminate tip, margins rather flat; petals to 8 mm long, similar to sepals. Labellum to 6–8 mm long, clawed, reflexed at c. 90 deg. past the middle; lamina red-brown with paler edges; base like an upturned bowl with entire, flat margins, abruptly narrowed beyond bend, often tail-like, acute with entire margin; callus plate reddish, apex thickened, channelled, extending just past the labellum bend. Column appendages reddish, 2–2.5 mm long, obtuse. Flowers Oct.–Nov.
Flowering is enhanced by fire.
Distinguishing features include the broad humped labellum base, its narrow, often tail-like apex, the two-toned flowers and the short callus plate.
