Orchids in the genus Townsonia are terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herbs which grow in small groups with their tubers connected by a fleshy root.

Those on non-flowering plants have a relatively long, fleshy petiole near ground level.

The labellum is much different in size and shape from the petals and sepals, folded lengthwise with a narrow, ridge-like callus along the mid-line.

[3][4] Townsonia was first formally described in 1906 by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman who published the description in Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

[6] The names of three species of Townsonia are accepted by Plants of the World Online as at August 2022:[7]