Drakaea livida is similar to others in the genus in that it has a single, ground hugging leaf and an underground tuber.

[4][3] The flower is also similar to those of other hammer orchids in that the labellum resembles a flightless female thynnid wasp, in this case Zaspilothynnus nigripes.

[6][7] The specific epithet is a Latin word meaning "bluish", or "black and blue",[8] referring to the blotched coloration of the flowers of this species.

[3] Warty hammer orchid occurs in the Fitzgerald River National Park and towards Watheroo[4] where it grows in sandy soils in woodland.

[9][10] Drakaea livida is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.