[2] Karl Schumann, the German botanist who first formally described the species using the synonym Petalolophus megalopus, named it after the large (Latinized form of Greek μεγαλος, megalos) wings that extend downwards from the underside of the inner petals to form a foot (Latinized form of Greek πους, pous) of dark red tissue that resembles carrion and is thought to attract fly pollinators.

The young, light brown to black branches are densely covered in hairs and also have sparse lenticels.

The pedicels have a medial, very densely hairy bract that is 0.5-1.5 millimeters long.

The purple, oval, outer petals are 2.5-5.5 by 3.5-7 millimeters with hairless upper and densely hairy lower surfaces.

The inner petals have deep-red, undulating, wing-like projections that are 30-70 by 20-45 millimeters extending from their undersides.

The fruit occur in clusters of 3-6 and are organized on slightly hairy peduncles that are 120-250 by 1-2 millimeters.

The large, dark red, wing-like appendages extending from the underside of the inner petals resemble decaying meat and are thought to attract large fly species that have been observed to visit the flowers and act as pollinators[5] It has been observed growing in lowland forests at elevations of 70–550 meters.