Like E. secundum, with which it has been found to hybridize in habitats disturbed by human activity, E. fulgens flowers are non-resupinate and are born in a congested raceme at the end of a long spike.

Like all crucifix orchids, the lip is adnate to the column and bears three lobes, producing the effect of a cross.

Like E. cinnabarinum, E. denticulatum, and E. puniceoluteum (also Brazilian members of subsection carinata), E. fulgens grows in the litoral restinga habitat.

The specific epithet, fulgens, is the present participle of the Latin verb fulgere "to shine, to glow" and refers to the brilliant yellow-orange flowers with red spots on the yellow lip.

E. fulgens differs from E. puniceoluteum and E. cinnabarinum by having slightly smaller yellow-orange flowers with a yellow lip, instead of bright red.