It has two or three leaves at its base and up to seven pale green, insect-like flowers with reddish glands on its labellum.

[2] Arthrochilus apectus was first formally described in 2004 by David Jones from a specimen collected in the Heathlands Reserve near the tip of Cape York.

[3] The specific epithet (apectus) is from the Ancient Greek word apektos meaning "uncombed" or "unkempt".

[4] The untidy elbow orchid grows in forest on the northern part of the Cape York Peninsula.

[2] As with other Arthrochilus orchids, A. apectus is pollinated by male thynnid wasps of the genus Arthrothynnus although the species involved is not known.