[5] It is native to northern and central Europe (Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Estonia and Latvia).

It is also reportedly naturalized in Italy and in parts of Canada (Ontario and Newfoundland).

[1][6] This species is found close to water, in damp alkaline meadows, by ponds, lakes or reservoirs and in dune slacks.

The flowers of this species are pollinated by insects including the cuckoo bee and skipper butterfly.

praetermissa has been shown to benefit from association with fungal species in the genus Rhizoctonia and others in the Tulasnellaceae family.