Robust perennial up to 70cm with overlapping, lance-shaped leaves up the stem. Inflorescence is cylindrical and dense. Flowers are somewhat downward-facing, the dorsal helmet-like sepal is purple and the 2 contrasting silvery-white lower lobes have a dark eye. The dorsal sepal has a spur 10-20mm long. It is one of the very few orchids that occurs in both winter and summer-rainfall regions.