Rosette leaves 3–8, ovate, 15–30 x 8–18mm, bright green, margins entire. Flower stem 50–15 tall, with 3–6 stem leaves to 30 x 5mm. Flower inflated, leaning forwards, dumpy, 35–45 x 17–20mm, translucent white with green or reddish-brown stripes and markings, tip often abruptly decurved. Dorsal sepal with short tapered point. Petals broad, incurved beside dorsal sepal. Sinus flat in sideview, deeply notched in front view. Free points filiform, 25–3 long, divergent, erect, recurved or curved forwards. Labellum curved, just protruding from sinus when set, 14–18 x 3.5–4mm, light to dark brown, tapered.
Widespread and common but disjunct from near coast to drier inland areas, growing in open forest, woodland, shrubland and grassland in freely draining sands, clay loams and stony soils; also among grass and herbs on basalt outcrops in brown to blackish loam and around large granite boulders in gravelly soil. Often forms large spreading colonies.
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