It has up to six dark green leaves with a network of silvery veins and up to four hairy brownish and white flowers.

Anoectochilus yatesiae is a tuberous, perennial herb with up to six leaves forming a rosette on the end of its fleshy rhizome.

[2][3] Anoectochilus yatesiae was first formally described in 1907 by Frederick Manson Bailey from specimens collected near Kuranda and the description was published in the Queensland Agricultural Journal.

[4] The specific epithet (yatesiae) honours "Mrs. Arthur Yates", one of the collectors of the type specimen.

[4] The marbled jewel orchid grows in highland rainforest between the Bloomfield River and Paluma Range National Park.