Plants 30-60 cm tall. Tuberoids palmately divided. Stem rather stout, leafy. Leaves 3-5, erect, oblong, acute, up to 12 x 3.5 cm. Inflorescence very dense, cylindric, 10 (-12) cm long. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, exceeding the ovary. Flowers rose-violet, pleasantly scented. Dorsal sepal ovate, 5 x 3(-3.5) mm, connivent with petals forming a loose hood; lateral sepals narrower, oblong, 6x2.5(-3) mm, spreading; petals broadly obliquely-ovate, 5 x 4 mm. Labellum angular-ovate in outline, usually broader than long, 5 x 5.5 mm, cuneate towards the base, shallowly trilobed at apex, lobes rounded. Spur slender, cylindric, acuminate, ± bent outwards, exceeding the ovary, 15-18 mm long, filled with nectar. Ovary slightly twisted, glabrous.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Syntype: Gossainthan et Kamoon, Wallich.

Distribution: Himalaya, from Pakistan to Bhutan, also Yunnan and Szechuan. In alpine pastures, above 2400 m up to 4800 m.

The development and fragrance of the flowers are very similar to the eurosibirian Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. but the leaves are different in shape and arrangement, being scattered evenly on the stem.