Flowering plant to 20 cm tall, stem leaves 3–6, closely sheathing. Rosette leaves 6–12, elliptic, 1–3.5 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide, shortly petiolate to nearly sessile, crowded, margins entire. Flowers 2–24, uncrowded, 7–9 mm long, green with darker lines, shiny; galea curved throughout, suddenly decurved near the apex; dorsal sepal acute; lateral sepals deflexed, conjoined part broadly ovate in outline when flattened, 5.5–6 mm long, 4.5–5 mm wide, margins incurved, concave, free points broadly triangular, c. 2 mm long, parallel; petals broadest near the base, obtuse. Labellum pale green with a dark green basal appendage; lamina obovate-oblong, c. 2.5 mm long, c. 2 mm wide; appendage c. 1 mm long, with a prominent central beak pointing forward. Flowers Aug.–Dec.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. New Zealand. Widespread from near the coast to well inland in open-forest, woodland and grassland, on well-drained soils.
The closely related Pterostylis crassicaulis can be distinguished by its more robust habit, heavily striped bluish green and white flowers and subalpine to alpine habitat.
Pterostylis spissa from stony rise grasslands has narrower rosette leaves, slightly smaller, more crowded, bright green flowers.
