Iris minuta Franchet & Savatier, Enum. Pl. Jap. 2: 42, 521. 1879, not Linnaeus f. (1782).

Rhizomes yellowish brown, long, slender. Roots much branched and matted, slender. Leaves narrowly linear, 5--16 cm × 2--7 mm, veins 3--5, midvein absent, apex acuminate. Flowering stems 7--10 cm, slender; spathes 2, lanceolate, 4--5 cm × 5--10 mm, 1-flowered, apex shortly acuminate. Flowers yellow, 2.5--3 cm in diam.; pedicel 1.5--2.5 cm, slender. Perianth tube 1.5--2 cm, slender; outer segments spreading, obovate, ca. 2.2 cm × 8 mm; inner segments erect, small, limb oblong, ca. 1.5 cm × 3--4 mm, apex obtuse and retuse, claw brown, very narrow. Stamens ca. 1 cm; anthers yellowish brown. Ovary ca. 1 cm × 2--3 mm. Style branches ca. 1.5 cm × 3 mm. Capsule globose. Fl. May, fr. Jun--Jul. 2 n = 22.

Forest margins, grassy hillsides. SE Liaoning [Japan, Korea].