A robust plant up to 85cm tall. Leaves leathery often in a basal fan, keeled, margins finely toothed. Inflorescence occasionally branched. Bracts often as long as the pedicels. Flowers are resupinate and have green to purplish-brown sepals and petals. The lip has 5-7 rows of papillae. The spur is slender to club-shaped.

Latin: lamelia = thin plate of tissue, gill; referring to the crests on the lip.