Plants up to to 20(-30) cm tall, slender. Scape in lower section with 2-4 brown sheaths, above yellowish-green. Inflorescence with 4-12 (-20) flowers. Bracts very small, 1-2 mm long, triangular-lanceolate. Sepals yellowish-green, oblong to linear-lanceolate, 4-6 x 1-1.4 mm, dorsal sepal slightly concave and loosely connivent with petals; laterals falcate, curving forwards. Petals somewhat smaller, falcately oblong, with some crimson spots. Labellum whitish with crimson dots and lines, oblong-ligulate, obtuse, usually with 2 small tooth-like side-lobes near the base, 4-5 mm long, in natural position first directed upwards, then bent sharply downwards. Column 3-4 mm long, slightly curved forwards. Ripe seed-capsule much swollen, pendent, ellipsoid.

Fl. Per.: June.

Type: “Habitat in Europea borealis desertis” Herb. Linn. 1056/5-7, photo.

Distribution: Temperate and Northern Eurasia, also in N. America, N. W Himalaya to Nepal.