Wall Iris (Iris tectorum) is a native of China, growing on forest edges, meadows, sunny banks, at 500 to 3,500 m (1,600 to 11,500 ft) elevation. Its native habitat is uncertain because it is widely cultivated in China, Bhutan (where it has naturalized), and India. It spreads with creeping rhizomes and has bluish-violet flowers. A white flowered variety has been named Iris tectorum f. alba (Dykes).

In the course of searching for novel cytotoxic compounds which can be used in chemotherapy, several Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) have been screened by bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation. An extract of rhizomes of Iristectorum Maxim., a TCM used to treat cancer, exhibited highest potency and led to the isolation of two flavonoids, 7-O-methylaromadendrin and tectorigenin, and four iridal-type triterpenes, iritectols A and B, isoiridogermanal and iridobelamal A. The overall activities of isolated compounds observed in the present study support the traditional use of Iristectorum Maxim. in the treatment of cancer.