Trachyandra tortilis is a perennial, acaulescent, geophyte with a subterranean tuber. It grows up to 25 cm high and has 3-6 grey-green basal leaves of 10 cm length and 2 cm width. The leaves of all Trachyandra species are filiform or linear, except in Trachyandra tortilis in which they are linear, sinuously folded in a very peculiar transversal manner. The folding and coiling varies from plant to plant. The flowers are pale pink marked with green, are borne in a much-branched spike and become up to 2 cm in diameter.
Tuber: Subterranean crowned with broad scales.
Tuber: Subterranean crowned with broad scales.