transiens is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single erect, hairy leaf 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide.

The labellum is lemon-yellow coloured with brownish-red stripes, projects prominently with a curled tip, has an irregularly serrated edge and two rows of shiny yellow calli along its centre.

Domin's description was published in Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany[4][5] but in 1989 Mark Clements and Stephen Hopper raised it to species status.

[1] Dwarf mustard spider orchid only occurs near Williams in the Jarrah Forest biogeographic region where it grows under dense rock sheoak and wandoo trees.

transiens is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[9] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.