Nervilia uniflora is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb which grows in colonies with only a few individuals producing flowers in any one year.

A single pink or mauve flower 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) long and wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–200 mm (4–8 in) tall.

The leaf is dark green on the upper surface, reddish below, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) wide and held horizontally above ground level.

[2][3] The red shield orchid was first formally described in 1866 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Pogonia uniflora and published the description in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.

[7] Nervilia uniflora occurs in north Queensland between Cooktown and Proserpine.