They have grass-like leaves and lilac-violet or blue-purple flowers on a tall slender stem.

[2] The stems have 3 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are narrow and are acuminated (ending in a sharp point), and they have a hyaline (clear and translucent) or membranous margin.

[2][5][6] In the centre of the falls, is a large, white, clavate (shaped like a club) beard.

[2] After the iris has flowered, it produces a pointed, 3-angled,[5] or 3-edged seed capsule[2] that is 4–6 cm (2–2 in) long.

[2][5] Since most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.

[13] It was first published and described by Carl Friedrich von Ledebour in 'Flora Rossica sive Enumeratio Plantarum in Totius Imperii Rossici Provinciis Europaeis, Asiaticis, et Americanis Hucusque Observatarum.

[5] It has never been illustrated except for a small drawing of one flower published in Komarov's 'Flora USSR' in Vol.4, table 34 in 1935.

[2][5][9][15] It is found in (the former states of USSR),[4][7][11] of Kazakhstan,[15][16] Afghanistan,[10] Tajikistan,[15] Turkmenistan,[2][15][17] and Uzbekistan.

[19] It is also found in the Turanian gypsophilic (gypsum-loving) sagebrush lands of Kazakhstan, growing with Gagea reticulata, Nonea caspica and Tulipa sogdiana.

[16] A harvest of dry leaves of the iris are used as a litter for cattle in barns in Uzbekistan.

[4] It is grown in loamy soils, in full sun with good drainage.