It has grey-green leaves, long stem and 1 or 2 violet, lilac or light blue flowers.

[2] It has knobbly and woody rhizomes,[3] which have reddish purple, sheaths and fibers (remains from the past seasons leaves).

[4] It has a 7 mm (in diameter),[3] rounded stem, (not a flattened like species within Series Spuria),[2] that grows up to between 10–50 cm (4–20 in) tall.

[3][5] The highest pair of leaves have a transparent margin,[5] and the outer spathe is keeled.

[3] The (flat looking) flowers are 7.5–9 cm (3–4 in) in diameter, and come in shades of violet,[3] lilac,[4][7] or light blue.

[3] It is written as 多斑鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as duo ban yuan wei in China.

[8][2] Mr Farrer had originally noted that the specimen was found growing in an alpine pasture of south-western China, was Iris graminea (part of the Series Spuriae).

[5] It was then published and described as Iris farreri by Dykes in 'Gardener's Chronicle' Series III Vol.57 page175 on 3 April 1915.

[14][4][7] It grows within Picea (Spruce) forests, meadows, sunny banks and damp places near riversides.

[2] A specimen exists in Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, collected by Harry Smith in 'Sze-ch'uan', China on 9 July 2010.