Pterostylis humilis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and which often forms colonies.

The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column.

[3][4] Pterostylis humilis was first formally described in 1922 by Richard Rogers and the description was published in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia.

[5][6] The specific epithet (humilis) is a Latin word meaning "low", "on the ground", "shallow" or "poor;".

It occurs on the Volcanic Plateau and in the Egmont National Park on the North Island.