Plants slender, reed-like, up to 50cm tall, cryptic; stems often with a sheath of old leaf fibres at the base; leaves linear, slender and grass-like. Inflorescence lax, about 10cm long, bracts shorter than ovaries, dry; flowers maroon and greenish, median sepal and lip with darker banding; reflexed 'elbow'-shaped petals protrude forwards from the flower; spur absent.

Latin: forfex = pincers, forficula = a pair of small shears: refers to the shape of the unusual petal structure of this species.