The column has broad, deeply fringed, orange or yellow wings.

[2][3][4][5] Thelymitra stellata was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley and the description was published in Edwards's Botanical Register.

[6] The specific epithet (stellata) is a Latin word meaning "starred" or "starry",[7] referring to the star-shaped flowers.

[2][3][8] Thelymitra stellata is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[8] and as "Endangered" (EN) under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The main threats to the species are fire during the growing season, browsing by rabbits and habitat fragmentation.