Aphyllorchis anomala is a leafless terrestrial, mycotrophic herb that has a fleshy, brittle, shiny dark purple flowering stem with between four and twenty white flowers with purple markings.

The lateral sepals are a similar size, turn slightly downwards and spread widely apart from each other.

[2][3] Aphyllorchis anomala was first formally described in 1965 by Alick William Dockrill who published the description in The Orchadian.

[1][4] The specific epithet (anomala) is derived from the Ancient Greek word anomalos meaning "uneven", "irregular", "inconsistent", "abnormal", "unusual" or "deviating from the regular rule".

[5] The simple pauper orchid grows near sea level in moist, shady rainforest mainly between Rossville and the Atherton Tableland and near Airlie Beach.