Plants erect and 18-75cm tall. Leaves 2-4 partly erect to spreading, rather thick and leathery, purple-spotted towards leaf sheathing bases. Flowers largish and deeply hooded, bright orange to yellow, lip often tinged with red, scent absent to fairly pungent; spurs 9-12mm long. These comparatively large and sturdy plants are often pollinated by Lesser-collared, Orange-breasted and Malachite Sunbirds. Pollinia attach themselves to the bird's beak.