Rhizome thick, branched. Plant to 20-30 cm. Leaves falcate, 3-5, in rosette, as tall as stem. Flowering stem bears 2-4 leaves and 2 flowers. Flowers large, brown-yellow with violet veins. V - from early spring to late autumn. Fl - May. Fr - June. P - by division and by seed. Requires a semi-shaded site and moist but well-drained soil during the vegetative period. Very well suited to the rock garden, and for group planting. Z 4.

Siberia (southern regions), Central Asia (Dzungaro-Tarbagatay), Far East (Ussuriskiy Kray), northern China and Mongolia. Meadows, valleys, forest margins, along streams in the alpine zone.