Pterostylis borealis, is a glabrous, terrestrial herb that typically grows to a height of and has an underground tuber. It has 3 to 7 spreading rosette leaves long and wide, but are lost by the time flowering occurs. Up to 3 green and white flowers, flushed with light brown, are borne on
pedicels long, each flower long and wide. The
dorsal sepal and
petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the
column, the dorsal sepal egg-shaped to lance-shaped, long and wide. The
lateral sepals are held close to the galea and are deeply notched, wide and joined for long. The petals are oblong, long and wide and the
labellum is long, wide with a raised, pale brown
callus. The
column is long with wings about long. Flowering occurs in late winter and autumn. ==Taxonomy and naming==