Pterostylis turfosa is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber.

The lateral sepals are turned downwards, joined near their bases to form a fleshy pad with tapering tips 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and parallel to each other.

[3][4][5] Pterostylis turfosa was first described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher and the description was published in the second volume of Lehmann's book Plantae Preissianae.

[1][6] The specific epithet (turfosa) is a Latin word meaning "peaty".

[7] The bearded bird orchid grows in a wide variety of habitats, from shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops to forest but mainly close to the coast.