It has a single channelled, dark green leaf with a reddish base and up to fifteen dull greenish flowers with bold red stripes.

Unlike that of other beard orchids, there is no prominent ridge between the eye spots.

Calochilus therophilus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single fleshy, channelled, linear to lance-shaped, dark green leaf, 200–400 mm (8–20 in) long and 20–28 mm (0.8–1 in) wide with a reddish purple base.

The column has two purple coloured "eyes" joined by a faint ridge.

[3] The late beard orchid grows in open forest or with grasses and shrubs on mountain slopes.