It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Caucasus Mountains, in the countries of Moldavia and the southern Ukraine.

It is often regarded as a synonym of Iris aphylla, but it has chromosomal and morphological differences, so it may considered to be a parent species instead.

[4][5] It has a short, creeping rhizome,[6] that is 2 cm long and fibrous.

[4] It has short,[7] linear, ensiform (sword shaped) leaves.

[1] It has a slender stem,[1] or peduncle,[2] that can grow up to between 15–50 cm (6–20 in) tall.

[1] The stem has green, inflated, ovate or oblong, spathes (leaves of the flower bud), that sometimes has purple veins.

[6] It has style branch that is 1.2 cm long, which is deltoid shaped and has toothed edges.

[1] After the iris has late summer,[2] it produces an elongated triangular capsule.

[6] Inside the capsule, are small, reddish brown, oval, wrinkled and rather compressed seeds.

[2] In 1961, a study was carried out on various irises in USSR, including Iris furcata.

[1][9][14] As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.

[17] The Latin specific epithet furcata refers to 'furcatus' meaning forked[18] It was first published and described by Friedrich August Freiherr Marschall von Bieberstein (German botanist), in 'Centuria Plantarum Rariorum Rossiae Meridionalis' (Cent.

[10] It was also referred at one time as Iris biflora by Marschall von Bieberstein.

[1][9][24] Within (the former southern Russian states,[5]) countries of Moldovia and Ukraine.

[3] : 184 [7][8]: 119 It has also been found in Lazistan in Georgia, with Iris taochia,[13][14] It is found in the Caucasus with other mountain flora including Anemone fasciculata, Anemone raminculoides, Caltha popypetala, Veratium lobelianum, Palsatilla armena, Corydalis persica, Fritilaria caucasica, Betonica grandiflora, Prunus spinosa, Sedum pilosum, Sempervivum transcaucasicum, Malus orientalis and Pyrus caucasicus.

[23] It grows on the dry,[2][24] open pastures,[12] or steppes,[6][13] in among bushes on the mountain slopes,[16] and beside the edges of woodlands.

[4] It was grown in Dorpat, Russia in 1820,[16] then in 1838 in the Imperial Botanical Garden of St.

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