Small epiphyte. Stems to 6 cm long. Leaves elliptic to ovate, to 6 cm long, to 4 cm wide, leathery, light green. Inflorescences to 4 cm long, erect. Flowers solitary, to 2.5 cm long; winter to spring. Dorsal sepal erect. Lateral sepals about as long as dorsal, orange-brown with maroon lines or dots. Labellum 3-lobed, side lobes sickle-shaped, midlobe fiddle shaped, notched at tip, colour similar to lateral sepals.

Venezuela.

R. guttulata Lindl. from Colombia,Venezuela and Ecuador is similar to R. elegans but the former has generally longer stems and leaves more than twice as long as wide.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.