It has many thick roots, branched stems, many strap-like, leathery leaves and up to many upward-facing green flowers with a cream-coloured or yellowish labellum.

It usually grows on high on rainforest trees and is found between Sulawesi and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Pomatocalpa marsupiale is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming large clumps with a branched main stem, 200–500 millimetres (7.9–20 in) long and thick roots.

[7] The specific epithet (marsupiale) is derived from the Latin word marsupium meaning "pouch", "bag" or "purse".

It is found in Malesia, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and in Queensland on the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges at altitudes between 400 and 600 m (1,300 and 2,000 ft).