It is a slender ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two small, bright pink to magenta flowers.

It is only found in higher areas of the Australian Capital Territory, southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.Eriochilus cucullatus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber.

One or two bright pink to magenta flowers are borne on a slender spike, 100–250 mm (4–10 in) tall.

The labellum is green or yellowish near its base, pinkish near the tip and has three lobes, the middle one egg-shaped and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide with small clusters of reddish bristles.

[1] The magenta autumn orchid grows in moist soil in alpine meadows with grasses and sedges, sometimes near swamps and streams.