Leaf terete or channelled, 50–180 × 2–3 mm, dark green, base reddish. Flower stem flexuose, 150–300 × 1.5–2 mm, wiry, often pinkish, 1–4-flowered. Sterile bracts 2. Flowers 20–35 mm across, internally pale yellow to deep yellow (rarely white), externally reddish brown. Sepals and petals 10–18 × 4–6 mm, outer surface of sepals with broad reddish brown band which sometimes stains inner surface reddish. Column 5–6 × 2–3 mm, yellow; post-anther lobe absent; apex narrowed, smooth; column arms dark brown, ear-like, held high above column or bent forwards or sideways, usually notched, surface minutely roughened or hairy. Anther yellow to orange, papillate.
Widespread and common from the coast to inland plains and ranges; forms small to extensive, free-flowering colonies in many different open habitats. Often prominent close to the coast growing in heathland, grassy patches and scrub in freely draining to poorly drained, sandy or peaty soil; can also be a feature of inland vegetation including open forest, mallee shrubland and woodland in freely draining sand and clay loam; found less commonly in seasonally wet, open sites among sedges and in shallow soil over rock plates and in rock crevices.
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