The "Hime-shaga" (Iris gracilipes) belongs to Iridaceae (the Iris family). It is a perennial herb that is an endemic species of Japan, and distributed southern-west Hokkaido south to Honshu, Shikoku and northern Kyushu. This herb grows in aridish woodlands and on rocks and can reach 15-30 cm in height. The leaves are sword-shaped, thinner and narrower than Crested iris (Iris japonica). The pale purple 2-3 flowers come on the stalks from May to June. The outer tepals have purple veins, yellow mottles and cristate projections. It bears the capsules different from Crested iris.