In Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 300 (1835)
Habenaria aristata (Lindl.) Hook.f. in H.Trimen, Syst. Cat. Fl. Pl. Ceylon: 91 (1885)
Peristylus exilis Wight in Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5: t. 1698 (1851)
Plant terrestrial to 20–35cm tall. 

Tuber cylindric, 1.2–2.5  cm  long, 0.5–1  cm  wide.  

Leaves 5,  elliptic-lanceolate, apex acute,  4–5  cm long,  1–2.5  cm  wide.

 
Inflorescence spike, erect, slender, 7–18  cm  long.

 
Flower pale  green, laxly  arranged,  4–5.5  mm  wide;

 
Sepals dorsal  sepal  elliptic-oblong,  5  mm  long,  1.8  mm  wide,  obtuse; lateral sepals lanceolate,  3.5  mm  long,  1.8  cm  wide,  obtuse;

 
Petals oblanceolate, 5 mm long, 2.4 mm wide, acute;

Lip 3-lobed, lobes unequal; lateral lobes linear, acute, 6–7.5 mm long, 
0.5 mm wide; midlobe oblong, 2.5 mm long, 0.9 mm wide, obtuse; spur ellipsoid, acute, 3.2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; 

Column short globose, up to 1 mm tall; anther locule clavate with short projecting stigma below; stigma not projecting beyond the lower tip of the anther locules

Flowering September