Plants slender, 8-20(-25) cm tall. Tuberoid of flowering plant globose, sessile, the 2-3 new ones long-stalked. Stem stiff with 2-3(-4) oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves in lower part and 2-3 bract-like above. Inflorescence 1-10 cm long, 1-10 cm broad, usually dense, sometimes lax. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, ± equalling the ovary in length. Flowers small, drooping, yellowish-green, sweet-scented, the lower often distant. Sepals connivent, the dorsal ovate-oblong, 2.2-3 x 1.6-1.8 mm; laterals narrower, 2.5-3.2 x 1-1.2 mm. Petals longer, from broadened base suddenly narrowed, 3.5 mm long. Labellum ± as long as petals, 3.2-4 mm long, 3-lobed near concave base; side lobes short, c.0.6 mm, divergent; mid-lobe narrowly-ligulate, 1.8-2 mm long. Column short, broad. Ovary sessile, slightly twisted, bent downwards at apex.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: “Habitat in Europea pratis uligonosis”

The basal part of the labellum of the Himalayan Herminium monorchis is sometimes distinctly conically excavated. More than in the European plants, thus giving the appearance of a short spur.

Distribution: Europe, Himalayan-mountains, Tibet, China, Japan. Euro-Sibirian element. In wet meadows up to 4300 m.