It is a rhizomatous perennial, from China, India, Burma (or Myanmar) and Bhutan.

[4] The flowers are 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter,[5][8][9] come in shades of blue,[6][8] from blue-violet,[4][7] lilac,[8][9] lavender-blue,[10] to blue-purple,[3][4][9] or purple.

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

[4][14] It is written as 锐果鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as rui guo yuan wei in Pidgin.

[15] It is known as ko tha o pa and dkar po cig thub in Tibet.

A specimen was found in China, in 1873 by Mr. N.M. Przewalski and then given to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh herbarium collection.

[5][15][20] It was later published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society Vol.42 Issue1 on page 79 in October 1916.

[9] An albino form of the iris, was found by Farrer in Western China, although there is a great deal of variation in the species.

[11] It is also found within tropical Asia, in India (including Sikkim,[2][3][8] and Nepal,[4][8][10]), Bhutan,[4] and Myanmar (also known as Burma).

[4][9][10] It grows on alpine grasslands and meadows,[4][5][11] and in open forests of mountain valleys,[8] on granite soils.

grossa Y.T.Zhao is classified as a synonym of Iris cuniculiformis [23] It is used in native Tibetan folk medicine.