Spiculaea ciliata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and an oval-shaped tuber lacking a protective sheath.

[8] However, in a 1989 revision David Jones and Mark Clements, separated this population from Drakaea and other orchid genera and this reinstated Lindley's original name.

[9] The origin of the genus name, "Spiculaea", is from the Latin word spiculum meaning "a sharp point" or "a sting", probably referring to the appendage at the tip of the labellum.

[10]: 114  The specific epithet ("ciliata") is from the Latin word meaning "eyelash" or "eyelid",[10]: 390  referring to the long hairs found on the sides of the labellum.

[2] Spiculaea ciliata grows in shallow, sandy soil over granite between the Darling Scarp, Paynes Find and Mount Ney in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions.

(Nikulinsky)"[11] Spiculaea ciliata is thought to be pollinated by a male thynnid wasp of the genus Thynnoturneria which is initially attracted to the labellum of the orchid by a pheromone, flying from downwind towards the flower.