Rhizanthella slateri

Rhizanthella slateri is a leafless, sympodial herb with a branching, whitish, underground stem up to 150 mm (5.9 in) long and about 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter with prominent overlapping bracts. The stem is often branched with up to four flowering heads. The heads are up to 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter and have up to thirty tube-shaped, purplish flowers surrounded by whitish, triangular floral bracts up to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. The dorsal sepal is curved with a thread-like tip and has a broad base that forms a hood over the column and the lateral sepals, sometimes protruding above the floral bracts. The petals are about half as long as the lateral sepals. The labellum is thick, tongue-like, heart-shaped and covered with fine, pimply papillae. The column is short and broad with narrow "wings". Flowering occurs in October and November with the heads maturing below the soil surface or up to 20 mm (0.79 in) above ground level.

Rhizanthella slateri grows in forest, usually under a deep layer of organic litter. It is known from populations in the Buladelah area, the Watagan Mountains, Blue Mountains, Dharug National Park and near Nowra, each population only known from a few individuals. Records from the Lamington Plateau in Queensland are now recognised as R. omissa.