Peristylus holochila (syn. Platanthera holochila) is an erect, deciduous herb that arises from subterranean tubers. The stems are 15–60 cm long and glabrous, starting from the base completely enclosed by 2–3 erect, tubular sheathing cataphylls that slightly flare at the apex and measure 1.5–3 cm long. The leaves are simple and alternate, with lanceolate to ovate blades ranging from 4–12(–20) cm long and 1–3(–4) cm wide. The midrib is impressed on the upper surface and slightly raised on the lower surface. The leaves are uniformly pale green, membranous in texture, with entire margins and a sheath extending 1–5 cm. The veins run parallel, and it does not have stipules. The flowers occur in open spikes, each subtended by a linear-lanceolate foliaceous bract measuring 2.5–4 cm long. The flowers are perfect and greenish-yellow, with a dorsal sepal that is appressed to the column and hooded, measuring 2.5–3.5 mm long. The lateral sepals are erect and elliptic, around 3–3.5 mm long. The lateral petals are slightly smaller, enclosed by the sepals, erect or inflexed toward the column, irregularly ovate, approximately 2–2.5 mm long, with a fleshy, slightly thickened, ligulate apex. The labellum is ligulate, about 3 mm long, and features a long spur at the base (3–5 mm long). It has a single stamen adnate to and surrounding the style to form a column. The ovary is inferior, 3-carpellate, with a relatively broad rostellum forming a transverse ridge beneath the anther cells and a large, deeply concave, unlobed stigma. The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule measuring 1–1.5 cm long. It is primarily terrestrial, thriving in open or shaded sites on bog hummocks and occasionally in wet forests, not near bogs. It is found in mesic forests and subalpine shrublands between 600–1830 meters.