It has flattened green roots with irregular white spots and pressed against the substrate on which it is growing.

Taeniophyllum malianum is a leafless, epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms untidy, tangled clumps.

It has stems 10–20 millimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long that become covered with stiff hairs as they age.

[2][3][4] Taeniophyllum malianum was first formally described in 1913 by Rudolf Schlechter and the description was published in Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis.

It occurs in New Guinea and Queensland where it is found between the McIlwraith and Iron Ranges.