Brachystelma vahrmeijeri grows several pinkish brown stems from a flat, red tuber (caudex) 5-10 cm in diameter, the top of which may sometimes be seen above ground. The leaf is elliptic to lanceolate with a tapering tip and base. They attenuate into the stems, making the existence of petioles a matter of opinion. The pale yellow star-shaped flowers are widely opened, the corolla lobes often curving either backwards or forwards. This dwarf species does not appear to have a close affinity with any described species.