Plants cespitose, 4-7 cm. Roots slender. Stems 1.5-5 cm; sheaths 4-8, closely appressed, ciliate. Leaves: petiole 2-4 mm; blade 12-25 × 6-13 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute to obtuse. Inflorescences from near apex of stem, few- to several-flowered racemes, ± congested, to 10 mm; spathe absent; peduncle filiform, 15-30 mm; bracts 0.75-1 mm; pedicels 0.5-1 mm. Flowers dark red-purple, glabrous; sepals slightly keeled; dorsal sepal free, broadly ovate, concave, 1.25-1.5 × 1.25-1.5 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals connate proximal to middle, oblong, 1.5-1.8 × 0.8-1 mm, apex obtuse; petals oblong-obovate, 0.5-0.6 × 0.2-0.4 mm, apex obtuse; lip 1 × 1 mm, base broadly cordate, apex obtuse to rounded, lobes broadly rounded, embracing column; disc slightly concave with distinct, smooth, shallow depression immediately distal to base; column 0.4 × 0.5 mm; ovary 0.5 mm.

Flowering sporadically throughout year. Moist forests; 0--60 m; Fla.; West Indies (Greater Antilles).

Lepanthopsis melanantha is recognized by its small stature and shoots with ciliate sheaths with dilated mouths; a relatively short, distichous raceme of few or several, simultaneous, dark red-purple flowers, usually surpassing the leaf; and a broadly ovate, concave, dorsal sepal, with oblong lateral sepals connate proximal to the middle, minute petals, and a broadly cordate, obtuse lip with a smooth, shallow depression at the base. It is known in the flora area only from the Fahkahatchee Swamp in Collier County, Florida.