It has a single thin leaf and up to thirty two hairy, light reddish flowers which lean downwards and have a dark purple labellum.

There is a dark purple callus in the centre of the labellum and covering about three-quarters of its surface.

[5] In 2002, Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Corunastylis systena but that name is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census.

[1][6] The specific epithet (systenum) derived from the Ancient Greek word systenos meaning "tapering to a point",[7] referring to the shape of the labellum of this orchid.

Genoplesium systenum grows below shrubs in forested ridges and slopes on the ranges near Cowra, including the Conimbla National Park and Weddin Mountains National Park.