Abstract: The present paper deals with a traditional Chinese drug "malinzi" in respects of its botanical origin, distribution, ecological condition, resource, seed characters and the survey result.After a careful botanical examination, the scientific name of the original plant of "Malinzi" should be Iris lactea Pall. var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz.The content of the antitumor active principle irisquinone A varies with the localities and the parts of the plant.