Plant: stems reddish to 20 cm tall, densely hairy.

Flowers: 1–4, white to pink tinged, with the backs of the tepals and column covered with maroon glandular hairs which are sometimes reduced to raised spots. Tepals acute. Labellum red barred with two rows of white or yellow topped calli; midlobe usually curled under with numerous, sometimes hooked marginal calli.

Flowering: November to December.

Habitat: Lowland to subalpine scrub, well lit scrub or forest. Wellington and Nelson.

Conservation: Common in suitable habitat.

Notes: Often grows with C. chlorostyla but distinguished by its red stem and white tepals although intermediate, possibly hybrid forms, are sometimes present of intermediate flower colour and only partly red stems.

Key features: red stem and white tepals; stalked red callii on stem and tepal backs.