It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to ten translucent pinkish-red flowers, and is widespread and common in coastal and near-coastal areas.

Acianthus fornicatus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with a single heart-shaped, glabrous, dark green leaf which is reddish-purple on its lower surface.

There is a thick, fleshy callus covering most of the central area and many small pimple-like papillae on the outer half.

[2][3][4] This species is distinguished from others in the genus by its largish, projecting flowers, usually pinkish colouring, and broad dorsal sepal and labellum.

[4] Acianthus fornicatus was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1810 and the description was published in Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae.