Plant at fl. c. 5–20 cm. tall. Stem erect, slender. Green cauline lf sessile, us. about ½ way up stem, c. 1–2 cm. long, ovate to ovate-oblong, acute to subacute, ± cordate at base, occ. shallowly notched. Petiolate lf from horizontal rhizome emerging through a cylindric scale-lf and us. distant from flowering stem; lamina similar to that of cauline lf. Empty floral bract us. present between lf and solitary fl. but occ. 2 fls develop. Per. c. 1–1.5–(2) cm. diam., the outer surfaces with short, fine, ± glandular pubescence. Sepals lanceolate, acute; dorsal greenish, arched over column; lateral whitish, widespreading. Petals similar to sepals. Labellum much shorter and ± hidden under dorsal sepal; disc with transverse reddish stripes, calli yellow. Column reddish inside, wings membr. and pale.
[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2.]
Flowering: Nov.–Jan.–(Feb.)