Trachyandra ciliata grows swollen roots from a rhizome. The leaves are light green, somewhat sickle-shaped, channelled, spongy and sometimes hairy.
The unbranched inflorescences are racemes that curve elegantly. The flowers are white, star-like with straight, narrow, spreading tepals.
The fruits are small, segmented capsules, sometimes retaining the styles of the preceding flowers on their tips (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000; www.plantzafrica.com).