All species are temperate terrestrial plants and occur across much of Europe, North-West Africa, the Mediterranean Islands, and as far east as Iran.

There is still chlorophyll present but the plants are believed to be solely dependent on their fungal partner for nutrients.

[3] They spend most of their life underground as a short stem with fleshy roots, the unbranched inflorescence can appear in April to June if conditions are favourable.

[4] The name finds its origin in "haemodoron", first applied by Theophrastus and later adopted by Jacques Daléchamps to refer to parasitic plants most likely in Orobanche.

[5] The name is derived from the Greek “leimo-” (meadow) and “dōron,” (gift).