V. polylepis is a climbing vine. It has a fleshy, succulent stem with an intense green colour. The stem can reach about in length and has a diameter of . The stems are angular with channels running along their length. Leaves are produced in an alternating disposition along the stem, measuring in length and in width at full size. They are lanceolate shaped (long and narrow with a pointed end). Like the stems, the leaves are a bright, intense green. The stem also produces a specialised type of aerial root, called an adventitious root, which forms above ground, directly from the stem. These roots serve to anchor the plant to trees or can also become absorptive roots if they trail and come into contact with the soil. Flowers are produced either on the main stem or grouped on secondary stems called inflorescences. Although each inflorescence may have up to 20 flowers, only a few of these will be open at any one time and wild plants are rarely found flowering. As with other orchids, V. polylepis has highly modified flowers. Petals and sepals are whitish/green with yellow bases and measure by . Each flower has two petals (left and right), two lateral sepals (left and right), and a dorsal sepal, all of which are superficially alike. In the centre of the flower is a modified, funnel-like petal with frilled edges (lip/labellum). The lip is a bright pink-purple colour and surrounds a column which contains the ovaries and also produces pollen at its tip.
