The white or pink flowers of Satyrium longicauda var. longicauda are densely clustered in an erect spike. The leaves grow on a separate sterile shoot from the same tuberous rootstock. Leaf size reaches 20 cm, the small stem leaves sheathing it.
The plant occurs in montane grassland from the Eastern Cape into tropical Africa. It may also be seen on disturbed ground like road reserves. These plants flower abundantly afte fire (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998).