It is found in Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, Former Yugoslavia, Italy, Romania and France.

[9] The rhizome creeps along the ground,[10] creating dense clumps of plants.

[7] The stems (and the branches) hold between 3 and 5 flowers,[5][22][27] between spring,[4][17][21] and early summer,[5] between April and May,[7][9][22] in May,[23][27][28] or between May and June.

[6][7] The falls narrow to a pale, cuneate (wedge shaped) haft (section of petal near stem).

[6] They narrow to canaliculate (with a small channel or groove) brownish-marked haft,[7] or short claw.

[33] In 2003, a study was carried out the genetic diversity of Iris aphylla in Poland.

[34] In 2003, a population and morphological study was carried out on Iris aphylla within Biebrza National Park, Poland.

[36] In 2008, a genetic and morphological study was carried out on Iris aphylla populations in Italy.

[37] In 2008, the iris was studied to find the genetic diversity over a geographical range.

[38] In 2010, a chromosomal and European distribution study was carried out on Iris aphylla.

[12] As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.

[14]: 18 But unusually, Iris aphylla is a tetraploid form with 48 somatic chromosomes,[18][26] but it is also variable.

[29][30][32] The Latin specific epithet aphylla refers to the Greek word for 'without leaf',[26][47] This is due to the fact that the iris does not have any leaves during the winter period.

[49] Iris aphylla is an accepted name by the RHS and is listed in the 'RHS Plant Finder 2015'.

[50] It is native to parts of Central and Eastern Europe,[17]: 39 [26][28] and temperate Asia,[41] Within temperate Asia, it is found in the Caucasus,[2][25]: 120 [50] within Azerbaijan,[22] and the Russian Federation,[2][5] states of Ciscaucasia and Dagestan.

[41] Within Europe,[48] it is found in Czechoslovakia,[51] (only in central Bohemia and Czech central,[22]) Germany,[2][3][51] Hungary,[10][16][31] Poland,[2][42][51] Belarus,[18] Ukraine,[2][18][25]: 120  Bulgaria,[52] Albania,[6] Former Yugoslavia,[6] Italy,[2][6] Romania (within the Transylvanian Basin and Szeklerland,[53])[54] France,[22][41] Turkey,[25]: 120 [50] Armenia,[55] Georgia,[6][55] and (according to one ref) in Great Britain and Ireland,[24] but this may mean just naturalized.

[9] It can grow in grasslands and meadows,[2][31][42] beside limestone and sandstone rocks of hillsides,[22][26][42] in forest glades,[5][55] in scrub land or thickets,[5][12][55] and beside roadsides and paths.

Including green spleenwort (Asplenium viride), variegated horsetail (Equisetum variegatum), great sundew (Drosera anglica), marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris), common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), small fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris), yarrow broomrape (Orobanche purpurea), marsh felwort (Swetia perennis), fritillary (Fritilaria meleagris), and 20 other orchid species, including the lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus).

[58] In Serbia, it has become extinct, with Aconitum toxicum, Crocus banaticus and Salvia nutans.

[59] In Russia, it is protected in the nature reserves of Moscow, Rostov and Saratov regions.

bohemica), the cornflower (Cyanus triumfettii), golden alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis), hoary rock rose (Helianthemum canum), Austrian dragonhead (Dracocephalum austriacum), St. Bernard's lily (Anthericum liliago), blue lettuce (Lactuca perennis) and others.

[46] In Romania, it is listed as a rare and vulnerable plant, which is protected with other species including, Adonis vernalis, Allium albidum subsp.

transsylvanicus, Cephalaria radiata, Crambe tataria, Dictamnus albus, Jurinea mollis subsp.

[53] It is found in Târnava Mare River reserve, which has been protected due to overgrazing and scrub loss by aggressive trees and shrubs including black locust (Robinia pseudacacia).

[61] Due to its endangered status, rapid propagation (via in-vitro culture) has been developed.

[13][28] It has also been tested for hardiness in Russia, within the botanical gardens of Moscow, Stavropol, Chita and St Petersburg.

[9] Mononychus punctumalbum (Iris Weevil) can also attack the plant's seeds.

[6] Iris aphylla has numerous cultivars,[25]: 120  including; 'Ahlburg', 'Aphylla Gigantea', 'Aphylla Hungary', 'Aphylla Osiris', 'Aphylla Polonica', 'Aphylla Slovakia, 'Aphylla Wine-Red', 'Austrian Violet', 'Babadagica', 'Benacensis', 'Biflora', 'Bifurcata', 'Bisflorens', 'Black Forest',[55] 'Bohemica', 'Bright Water', 'Bujoreanui', 'Chamaeiris Campbelli', 'Chloris', 'Coelstis', 'Dacia', 'Dacica', 'Fieberi', 'Furcata', 'Hungarica Minor', 'Ladies Of Peeling', 'Melzeri', 'Minnow',[3] 'Monantha', 'Nudicaulis', 'Nudicaulis Major', 'Nudicaulis Purpuerea', 'Ostry White', 'Prodan', 'Slick', 'Thisbe', 'Thisbe's Child', 'Transylvania Native', 'Wee Charmer', 'Werckmeister' and 'Yellow Conundrum'.

fieberi (Seidl) Dostál, Iris aphylla f. major (Zapal.)

[18] Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting.