Plants cespitose, 10-45 cm. Roots coarse. Stems 10-25 cm; sheaths 2-3, loose, inflated. Leaves: petiole 1-4 cm; blade narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 10-20 × 2.5-10 cm, base cuneate, apex obtuse. Inflorescences apical, many-flowered racemes, simultaneous, 10-25 cm; spathe 1-2 cm; bracts 2-3 mm; pedicels 2-4 mm. Flowers: sepals distinct, light yellow, white-pubescent, apex obtuse; dorsal sepal oblong to obovate, concave, 5-8 × 2.5-3 mm; lateral sepals connate near base to form cup, oblong, ovate, oblique, 5-7.5 × 1.5-2.5 mm, apex obtuse; petals translucent white, 3-veined, oblong to obovate, 3-3.5 × 1.75-2 mm, apex obtuse, erose or notched; lip greenish white, 3-veined, oblong to nearly pandurate, curved, 2-2.5 × 0.75-2.25 mm, apex rounded to truncate; disc with pair of lamellae near middle; column 2.5 mm, hooded; ovary 2 mm.

Flowering winter and spring. Moist forests; 0--60 m; Fla.; West Indies (Greater Antilles); Central America; South America.

Pleurothallis gelida is recognized by a loosely sheathed, stout stem with a solitary, obtuse leaf; several long racemes of small, yellowish flowers that are pubescent within; and fused lateral sepals. It is uncommon in the Fahkahatchee Swamp in Florida.