Prasophyllum sylvestre is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single bright green, tube-shaped leaf, 160–400 mm (6–20 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a red base.

The flowers are pale green, pink and reddish-brown, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and lightly scented.

Flowering occurs from late October to early December and is usually triggered by fire or other light disturbance.

[2][3][4] Prasophyllum sylvestre was first formally described in 1991 by Robert Bates and David Jones from a specimen collected near Batemans Bay and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.

[1][4] The specific epithet (sylvestre) is a Latin word meaning "of forests"[5] referring to the habitat where this species grows.