The leaf is greyish green on the upper surface and reddish on the lower side.

[2][3][4][5] The small helmet orchid was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown, who gave it the name Corysanthes unguiculata and published the description in his book Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.

[8] The specific epithet (unguiculatus) is a Latin word meaning "hooved".

[9] Corybas unguiculatus is a widespread, sometimes common species which grows in heath and heathy forest.

The main threats to the species in that state are habitat loss, grazing by slugs and snails and weed invasion.