Plants robust, up to 120(-150) cm tall. Stem densely leafy. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, up to 20(-25) cm long, papery. Inflorescence ± second, 10-60 cm long, rachis whitish pubescent; lower bracts leaf-like, the uppermost ± as long as ovary. Flowers pale greenish, ± tinged or veined with brownish-red. Sepals spreading, up to 21 mm long, ovate-lanceolate; petals slightly shorter. Hypochile of labellum near base with 2 small, erect, triangular side-lobes, inside with 2 reddish-brown ridges; epichile ovate-lanceolate, 9-11 mm long, reddish-brown with white tip. Column 10 mm long, with dark green, very shortly stalked anther. Ovary indistinctly pedicelled. Ripe seed-capsule enlarged and distinctly stalked.

Fl. Per.: May until end of July, in Baluchistan from April.

Type: Iran, in faucibus Maroh Mahal montis Elbrus prope Derbend, Kotschy 401 (G!).

Distribution: Anatolia, Cyprus, Syria, Sinai Peninsula, Persia, Afghanistan, Himalaya eastwards to Nepal. Also in Eastern Africa (Somalia).

On moist places, near springs and rivers, on wet and mossy rocks, up to 2500 m.