[2][10] The stems are taller than the leaves,[4][5] and at higher levels on the mountains, the plants are shorter.

[3][4] In the centre of the falls, is a short,[5] (16–30 mm,[3]) thick row of small hairs (the beard), which is yellowish-white,[2][3][7] bright yellow,[16] or white with orange tips.

[4] It has 2.5 cm long style branch, that is paler than the falls and standards, and has deltoid crests.

[2][3] In 1956, a karyotype analysis was carried out on 40 species of Iris, belonging to the subgenera Eupogoniris and Pogoniris.

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

[26] The Latin specific epithet cengialti refers to a mountain or large hill 'Mount Cengialto' (also known as Monte 'Cengio Alto',[3][27]), close to the town of Rovereto, in northern Italy.

[28][29] Confusingly, another mountain near Arsiero in the province of Vicenza (Veneto), is also known as Monte Cengio Alto.

[5][31][32] A. Kerner was then assigned the author of the name Iris cengialti, previously ascribed to Ambrosi.

[34] In May 1886, Sir Michael Foster noted in Gardeners' Chronicle on pages554 and 555, that it had similarities with Iris pallida.

[25] In Trentino, it has found on Monte Zugna (south of Rovereto),[40] and Mount Brione.

[2][3][12] They can found in the Dolomites, with other plants including; alyssum ovirense, androsace villosa, centaurea haynaldii, crepis froelichiana subsp.

dinarica, eritrichium nanum, euphorbia kerneri, geranium argenteum, leontodon berinii, lilium carniolicum, potentilla incana and thlaspi minimum.

[38] They also grow in the Belluno forests of Acer pseudoplatanus (Mount Maple) and Tilia platyphyllos (Lime tree) with other geophytes and Leontodon tenuiflorus (Dandelion insubrico), Knautia persicina, Globularia nudicaulis and Paeonia officinalis (Wild Peony).

[21] In Slovenia, in Bohinj, it grows in meadows with another rare plant, Linnaea borealis (twinflower).

[24] It is a rare plant,[15] although locally it is abundant on the mountains,[12] growing in masses, hanging onto relatively steep slopes.

[28] In Italy, it is listed as a protected species of regional interest (Annex B, LR 9/2007, Art.

[16] It prefers could grown in rich (in fertile loan,[16]), well drained soil in full sun.

[11] A herbarium specimen can be found at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.

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