The straight-stemmed tulip was described by A. V. Vvedensky in 1935 in the Üshözen Gorge (Karatau Mountains). It is distinguished by its linear, opposite-crossed leaves, a very short stem, and 1–3 white flowers measuring 2–2.5 cm in height. It blooms from late March to April. The species grows on clayey and rocky slopes of low mountains. It is endemic to Kazakhstan and found only in the Karatau Mountains. It is protected in the Karatau Nature Reserve and the Berikkara Botanical Sanctuary.