Rosette stalk 5–4 long; leaves 5–10, ovate, 10–40 x 5–15mm. Flower stem 150–40 tall; stem leaves 8–15, 20–60 x 6–12mm. Flowers not crowded, 1–15, semi-nodding, 14–20 x 10–15mm, dark reddish-brown to blackish-brown (sometimes greenish, especially in WA) with darker bands and translucent areas. Dorsal sepal 16–2 long; apical point c.1. long. Lateral sepals broadly elliptical, 12–18 x 12–15mm, joined for most of their length, flat or convex; free points c. long, triangular, tapered. Petals 12–15 x 4–5mm, translucent with red-brown lines. Labellum oblong, 5.5–6.5 x 3.5–4mm, dark reddish-black, hairy; basal appendage c. long; labellum apex upcurved, notched. Column 14–1 long.
A very widely distributed species ranging from coastal and near-coastal sites, growing in coastal scrub and heathy woodland in freely draining sands and loams to slopes and gullies in hilly and high rainfall mountainous districts in woodland, open forest and tall forest in rich loam. Var.: The most robust plants occur in the Adelaide Hills, especially high rainfall parts where the type collection was made. Plants from areas of reliable rainfall further E and W tend to be less robust and fewer-flowered but retain dark reddish-brown to blackish flower colouration and relatively large oblong labellum. Plants in some areas of WA have green to greenish-brown flowers rather than typical dark reddish-brown to blackish flowers. Plants growing on calcareous dunes and limestone cliffs on coastal parts of Nullarbor Plain often have cream, pinkish or pale brown flowers as a result of impaired nutrient uptake due to alkalinity of soil in which they are growing.
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