It has large, thin and falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves, slender stem with a single flower between April and May.

It has a white, cream or pale yellow ground, which is covered in dark veining or speckling in violet, mauve, purple or brown shades.

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, but normally needs some protection during the winter period.

It is classed as an mezo-xerophyte (meaning it likes medium to dry habitats),[2] and has stoloniferous rhizomes which are about 3 cm long.

[5] The large flowers, are 10–14 cm (4–6 in) in diameter,[6][8] they have a white,[5][6][13] cream,[3] or pale yellow ground,[8][11][14] has dark,[9] veining or speckling in violet,[5] mauve,[10] purple or brown shades.

[15][16]: 17  The darker veined,[6][7] scallop shell shaped,[10] falls are deflexed (bending over to an almost flat position),[10][11] and up to 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long.

[5] in the center of the falls, is a velvet-like,[5] dark,[14] brown to purple,[3] or black signal patch.

[5][2] Then the plant dies back, losing the leaves and stems, to rest underground during the winter.

[citation needed] The Latin specific epithet elegantissima refers to 'elegantissimus' meaning very elegant,[21] it is a superlative of 'elegans'.

[24] It is found in Armenia,[4][7][24] (including Shirak,[12] Yerevan,[12][15][27] Aparan, Mount Aragats and Sevan.

[5] It is at risk due to various factors, including urbanization, land development for arable purposes (framing) and the intensive collection (of the flowers) for selling.

Various rare or endangered species of plant can be found within the reserve, including Actinolema macrolema, Aegilops crassa, Gladiolus atroviolaceus, Hordeum spontaneum, Iris elegantissima (I. iberica subsp.

[10][39] The irises grow within fertile,[39] highly drained soil,[4][39] in full sun,[7] but needs protection from rain in the late summer and winter.

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

[43] On 19 December 1997, as part of Flora and Fauna of Armenia (III issue) in the 'Irises' series, 2 stamps had images of the irises,[12] (See images on the right), also on 12 August 1993, a commemorative stamp was issued in Azerbaijan, from the Flowers series, Iris elegantissima.