Deciduous terrestrial orchids growing singly or in loose groups or scattered clonal colonies. Leaf single, basal, ground-hugging, generally round, ovate or heart-shaped, with a thick, spongy texture. Inflorescence 1-flowered; peduncle tall, thin, wiry, thinner at base than middle. Flowers resupinate, insectiform, dark-coloured, sometimes odorous. Tepals similar in size and shape, inconspicuous, recurved out of the way. Dorsal sepal free. Lateral sepals attached by bases to column foot. Petals free. Labellum peltately attached to rod-like basal stalk which is hinged to apex of rod-like column foot by short claw (labellum hinged so that it can swing freely, afterwards returning to its original position). Labellum lamina unlobed, folded and with downcurved margins to form a tube or cylinder that resembles body of female thynnine wasp. Callus of shiny, wart-like calli (callosities), spots and ciliate clubbed hair-like structures (branched and unbranched) aggregated to form an insect-head-like structure (pseudohead) and tail-like base (whole labellum and callus setup resembles a lure dangling on the end of a hinged rod). Column reclined backwards, with short, vestigial wings near base and large, swollen anther. Anther cap with or without short, curved, apical point (mucro). Pollinia 4, flat, mealy, yellow, no viscidium.
These orchids grow in freely draining, white sand or laterite in open clearings in woodland, mallee communities and shrubland or close to depressions and swamps. They commonly colonise track verges, gravel scrapes and mounds of laterite. They do not survive in overgrown habitats.
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