Cryptostylis subulata Rchb.F.

Leaves lanceolate, 80–150 × 25–30 mm, dark green to yellow-green on both surfaces, on stalks 40–80 mm long. Flower stem 500–800 mm long, 3–20-flowered. Flowers 25–35 × 10–14 mm. Sepals and petals yellowish. Dorsal sepal 18–25 × 2–3 mm, reflexed against ovary. Lateral sepals 18–25 × 2–3 mm, falcate, widely divergent. Petals 10–13 × 1 mm, spreading or sometimes recurved. Labellum projected stiffly forwards to deflexed, 25–30 × 10–14 mm long when flattened, reddish to reddish brown, sometimes purplish or yellowish, margins recurved or rolled over completely, inner surface glandular-hairy. Callus of 2 dark purple, longitudinal ridges ending in a bilobed projecting knob. Column c. 3.5 × 3.5 mm.

Widespread and common in a range of habitats; often growing among rushes, sedges and grasses in moist depressions, swamps, seepage areas and wet flats (sometimes in standing water), but also in open forest, woodland, wallum and coastal scrub in soils ranging from moist sand to dry clay loam; less often among rocks and in rock crevices in freely draining, gravelly or sandy soil.

Plants can be grown from corms. A mixture of coarse sand and leaf litter from the original location is best. Plants do not respond well to root disturbance. Plants are pollinated by native wasps.