Gymnadenia conopsea (Linnaeus) R. Brown var. yunnanensis Schlechter; G. cylindrostachya Lindley; G. delavayi Schlechter; G. himalayica Schlechter; G. microgymnadenia (Kraenzlin) Schlechter; G. souliei Schlechter; G. violacea Schlechter; Habenaria microgymnadenia Kraenzlin; H. orchidis (Lindley) J. D. Hooker; H. stoliczkae Kraenzlin; Orchis cylindrostachya (Lindley) Kraenzlin; Peristylus orchidis (Lindley) Kraenzlin.

Plants robust, 15-50 cm tall. Tubers ovoid-ellipsoid, 1-3 cm, with many, slender, elongate lobes. Stem stout, with 2 or 3 tubular sheaths at base and 3-6 cauline leaves. Leaves widely spaced or clustered, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 4-16 × 2.5-4.5 cm, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescence 8-23 cm, stout; peduncle with 1-3 scattered, lanceolate bracts 2-5 cm; rachis 3-12 cm, densely many flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, apex acuminate, basal ones longer than flowers. Flowers fragrant, purplish red or pink, very rarely tinged with white; ovary 7-8 mm including pedicel. Dorsal sepal erect, ovate, 3-5 × 2-3.5 mm, 3-veined, apex obtuse; lateral sepals reflexed, ovate, oblique, 4-5 × 2.5-4 mm, 3-veined, margin revolute, apex obtuse. Petals straight, broadly ovate-triangular, oblique, 3-5 × 2.5-3.5 mm, 3-veined, apex obtuse; lip spreading, broadly obovate, 3.5-5.5 × 3-4.5 mm, 3-lobed at apex; lateral lobes ovate, 1-2 mm wide, apex obtuse; mid-lobe triangular, 1-2.2 mm wide, equal to or slightly larger than lateral lobes, apex obtuse to subacute; spur pendulous, slightly curved forward, 7-12 mm, equal to or exceeding ovary, slender. Column ca. 2 mm; viscidia lanceolate. Fl. May-Aug.

Forests, thickets, alpine grasslands; 2800-4100 m. SE Gansu, W Hubei, S Qinghai, S Shaanxi, W Sichuan, E and S Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan].