It was counted in 1984 by Doronkin, as 2n=22. It is normally published as 2n=22. It has the common name of 'curl-sheath iris' (in China), or 'Potanin iris'. It is written as 卷鞘鸢尾 in Chinese script, and known as "juan qiao yuan wei" in Pidgin in China. The Latin specific epithet "potaninii" refers to Grigory Potanin (a Russian ethnographer and natural historian). It was found in western Kansu (Gansu) in 1876. It was first published and described by Maxim. in 'Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg' Vol.26 page528 in 1880. It was also published in 'Mélanges Biol. Bull. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg' Vol.10 page724 in 1880. In 1980's, it was thought to be part of the 'Pseudoregelias section', but it is still within the Psammiris section, in most sources. It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003 and then updated on 10 April 2012. "Iris potaninii" is an accepted name by the RHS. "Iris potaninii" is native to temperate areas of Asia. It is found in the Russian Federation, within Siberia, in the states of Aga Buryat, Buryatia, Chita (including Dahuria (or Transbaikal),) and Gorno-Altai. It is also found in China, in the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Xizang. It is also though to be found in Mongolia, and Tibet. It grows on the rocky, gravelly or stony slopes, on dry hillsides, of mountains. They can be found at an altitude of above sea level. The iris is listed as 'rare', in Red Data Book of the Altai region. One colony of the iris is protected within Daursky Nature Reserve (in Chita Oblast, Russia).  hardy, soil, sun, moisture, situation, pests, planting  It is hardy in Russia, surviving winter in St Petersburg without shelter. It is hardy in a sheltered place, in the UK.