The flowers of G. varicosa are much smaller than G. insignis, usually on the order of 3.8 cm natural spread; G. insignis flowers are at least 6.0 cm and larger. Flowers on this plant are 7 cm. The brown coloration in G. varicosa is a red-brown, not nearly black looking as is G. insignis. The lip crest is more diffuse and the lip does not form a "shelf" relative to the rest of the flower. Per Eric Christenson: "...the callus of G. insignis consists of three low parallel basal ridges terminating in a single, very large, bilaterally compressed, rhomboid tooth without any ancilliary knobs. The flower is also inflexed at a 90 degree angle relative to the base of the lip forming a shelf-like platform and the lateral sepals are solid brown of the same color as the deep red-brown irregular blotch surrounding the crest. They are almost always found in conjunction with O. (Gomesa) varicosum often on the same tree."