Short to medium, rhizomatous plant, stem erect, hairy above. Leaves only 2 oval, low down at the base of the stem, dull green, prominently ribbed. Flowers small, numerous in slender spike-like raceme with tiny bracts, stalked yellowish green 7 to 15 mm pendant, notched at the end, spurless.

Woodland and marshy ground.

May to July.

Perennial.

Fairly frequent throughout Britain though never common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 52 of the 617 tetrads.