It is a small rhizomatous perennial plant, with fragrant, yellow flowers from Turkey.

[2] It is also similar in form to Iris sintenisii, except for the colour of the flowers, for the shape of the falls and for the fact that the spathe valves are not sharply keeled.

[4][7][14] It has bracts that have wide transparent margins, which become scarious after antithesis (after flowering).

[2] The scented flowers,[4][10][13] begin to appear between spring and early summer,[4][5][6] between May and July.

[5][9] They have a deeper yellow signal patch,[8][13] then fade to cream at the edges.

[10] In 2011, a study to find the various volatile chemical compounds within 3 species of native iris from Turkey.

The Iris kerneriana rhizomes contain; tetradecanoic acid (31.5%), heptacosane (10.0%), α-kessyl acetate (9.5%), nonacosane (8.8%) and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (7.7%).

Iris kerneriana stems contain; nonacosane (18.3%), heptacosane (16.7%), pentacosane (10.3%) and tricosane (6.0%).

[17] The Latin specific epithet kerneriana refers to 'Anton Kerner von Marilaun' (1755-1830), an Austrian botanist,[3] and Professor of Botany in Vienna.

[20] It is found in Northern Turkey,[6][9][19] from Bolu east to Erzurum and south to Kaz Dag and Ankara.

[4] They are thought to be ideal to use growing in front of borders and in rock gardens.

[22] They can then be sown at any time, but winter or early spring gives better results, since they prefer a cold spell in damp conditions.

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

[22] In Turkish folk medicine, the rhizomes of Iris species called Turkey ‘navruz’ or ‘su¨sen’ have been applied as diuretics, carminatives and laxatives.