It is a rare ground orchid, named in honour of the first scientist to discover it, Lewis Roberts and has two ground-hugging leaves and up to nine small green flowers.

The flowers are apomictic, lack pollen and a receptive stigma, forming seeds without fertilisation.

The specific epithet (robertsii) honours Lewis Roberts who discovered the orchid near his home in Shipton's Flat near Cooktown in the 1980s.

[3][5] The mystery orchid is only known from a small area south of Cooktown in tropical far north Queensland.

It is found in open forest in grassy areas in red gravelly or stony loam at altitudes from 300–500 m (1,000–2,000 ft), with maximum extent between March and late April.