Trichoglottis australiensis is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms coarse, untidy clumps with thick, cord-like roots and flattened branching stems 100–500 millimetres (3.9–20 in) long.

[2][3] Trichoglottis australiensis was first formally described in 1967 by Alick Dockrill and the description was published in The Orchadian from a specimen collected in the McIlwraith Range by Malcolm Brown.

[4][5] The specific epithet (australiensis) refers to Australia, the ending -ensis being a Latin suffix "denoting place", "locality" or "country".

[6] The weeping cherub orchid grows on trees and rocks in dense vegetation along gullies and in other humid places.

This orchid is listed as "vulnerable" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.