Plants 7-25(-40) cm tall. Sem leafy. Leaves 3-4(-5), narrowed towards the long sheathing base, 7 x 2(-3) cm, the lower elliptic-oblong, obtuse, the upper oblong-lanceolate, acute. Inflorescence rather dense, short, 3-6(-13) cm long. Lower bracts lanceolate, exceeding the flowers, sometimes up to 4-7 cm (C. bracteatum Parl.). Flowers green to yellowish-green, ± suffused with reddish-brown or red-brown. Perianth segments forming a semiglobular hood. Dorsal sepal ovate-obtuse, 3.5-5.5(-6) x 2.5-3.5(-4) mm; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 5-6(-7) x 2.5-3(-4) mm. Petals linear-lanceolate, 5(-6) x 1 mm. Labellum 6-8(-9) mm long, linear-oblong, flat, 3-dentate at apex, lateral lobes 1-3 mm long, always longer than the tooth-like, rarely hardly developed mid-lobe, at base with median keel and 2 lateral keels joining the sides of the column. Spur 2 mm long, flattened, 1.5 mm broad, obtuse. Ovary slightly twisted.

Fl. Per.: July.

Type: Described from Europe (Hb. Linn. 1055/3, photo!).

Distribution: Europe, C. Asia. In the Himalaya Mts. from Pakistan to Bhutan; S.E. Tibet up to 4000 m.