It has two grass-like leaves and up to ten purple or mauve flowers, often with darker, sometimes yellow marks.

[2][3] Diuris punctata was first formally described in 1804 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in Exotic Botany.

[6] The purple donkey orchid is found in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria growing in forest and grassland.

[2] Diuris punctata is classed as "threatened" in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

The main threats to the species are competition from weeds and grasses, grazing and soil disturbance.