Low to short parasitic, rhizomatous, white, lilac or pinkish plant. Leaves are scale like, fleshy and alternate. Flowers cylindrical, two lipped, 14 to 17 mm long and half nodding in a one sided spike.

Parasitic on the roots of various trees and shrubs such as Hazel, Alder, Beech and Elm.

Flowers March to May.

Parasitic perennial.

Widespread but rather local in Britain.

Infrequent and local in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 10 of the 617 tetrads.