Habenaria secundiflora J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 6: 165. 1890, not Barbosa Rodrigues (1881); Gymnadenia secundiflora Kraenzlin; Neottianthe mairei Schlechter; Peristylus secundiflorus Kraenzlin.

Plants 10-35 cm tall. Tubers subglobose to ellipsoid, 8-15 mm. Stem erect, with 1 or 2 tubular sheaths at base, 2-leaved. Leaves cauline, alternate, widely spaced, linear to narrowly oblong, 5-14 × 0.4-1 cm, apex acuminate to subacute. Peduncle with 1-4 sterile bracts, lowest one usually large and herbaceous; rachis 7-9 cm, laxly 8- to densely more than 30-flowered; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, to 25 mm, basal ones exceeding flowers, apex acuminate. Flowers mostly secund, pale to dark purple; ovary and pedicel 6-7 mm. Sepals connivent and forming a hood; hood 5-7 × 3-5 mm; dorsal sepal erect, lanceolate, concave, 5-6 × 1.5-1.8 mm, 1-veined, apex acute; lateral sepals lanceolate-falcate, oblique, 6-7 × 1.8-2.8 mm, 1-veined, apex acute. Petals appressed to dorsal sepal, linear to oblong-lanceolate, 5-5.5 × 0.7-1.2(-1.5) mm, 1-veined, apex acute; lip spreading, slightly reflexed, narrowly oblong, 4.5-6.5 × 2-3 mm, base attenuate, 3-lobed toward apex; lateral lobes oblong-ovate to lanceolate, 0.8-1.8 × 0.5-1 mm, apex obtuse or acute; mid-lobe narrowly oblong-ovate, 1.5-2.2 × 0.8-1.5 mm, apex obtuse or acute; spur pendulous, straight to slightly curved forward, conic, stout, 2.8-4 × 1.5-1.8 mm, apex obtuse. Fl. Aug-Oct.

Forests, grassy slopes; 2700-3800 m. W Sichuan, E and S Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal].