Terrestrial or lithophytic herbs. Roots filiform, tapering towards apex. Pseudobulbs flattened ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, enclosed by a few membranaceous sheaths, developing concurrently with leaves and flowers. Leaves usually 2, membranaceous, oblong or obovate, 3-7 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, apex acute, base cuneate, margin wavy-crisped, venation reticulate, with 2 elevated lateral veins and numerous connected transverse, elevated veinlets. Peduncle 2-4 cm long, winged; rachis 2-6 cm long; bracts small, ovate-triangular, 3-4 mm long; pedicel and ovary ca. 8 mm long. Flowers 4-12, dark purple, sometimes pale green along margins of lip; dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate, 10-12 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, revolute, often curved forward, acuminate at apex; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, 9-11 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, usually close and positioned beneath lip, divergent; petals linear, 10 mm long, 1 mm wide, spreading and +/- pendulous; lip elliptic ovate, 8-10 mm long, 5 mm wide, indistinctly 3 lobed, lateral lobes erect, folded, bent slightly downward into central lobe; central lobe ovate, 6 mm long, caudate at apex, minutely white ciliate, with many dark veins; disc with a thick roof-like callus at base; column slightly arcuate, 3-4 mm long, with 2 small wings near apex, dilated at base; anther purple outside, nearly orbicular, cells white; pollinia 2, 0.4 mm long; rostellum 2-lobed. Capsules ellipsoid, ca. 1.3 cm long.

CHIAYI: Alisan, Sasaki s. n. May 1913; Menyeh, Su & Chen 7868*.

The typical variety is in Japan and China; variety sasakii is endemic to Taiwan; forests at ca. 2000 m of central part.

The typical variety (L. krameri var. krameri) has pale green flowers marked with purple veins, but totally green or purple flowers have been reported by Maekawa (1971). The variety in Taiwan has slightly larger flowers which are dark purple. The lip is dark purple or tinged with green near the margins. The white ciliae are more obvious than in the typical variety.