This species is unusual in that it contains little or no chlorophyll and so  cannot photosynthesize, it therefore requires little if any light to survive and so can and frequently does grow in dense shade.  It used to be classified as a saprophyte, living on dead and decaying plant matter, recent studies however have shown it to have a complex "parasitic" relationship with mycorrhizal fungi and neighbouring trees.

Grows up to up to 50cm, with flower spike quite variable in length.  At first glance the living plant can be confused with the dried-up, previous year's spike which frequently persists.

In UK is mainly restricted to chalk and limestone and is commonest in the south and east, rarely found in large numbers.

In Europe this species has a wide distribution, although missing from the southern Mediterranean.