Summary of the Genus Iris

The old classification basically separated the genus by winter storage organs into: Roots, Rhizomes and Bulbs. The largest of these groups, the Rhizomes, was divided into three groups: Bearded, Beardless, and Crested. The bearded group is divided again into plants with arillate seeds and plants with seeds without arils.

The new classification will separate the beardless rhizome Iris as a group called wetland Iris from all the others which seem to be more closely related and termed Dryland Iris. Dryland is separated into Roots, Bulbs, and Bearded.

Subgenus Limniris (Tausch) Spach

Section Limniris

I. brevicaulis Raf. Mississippi River Basin. 12-20" (30-50 cm). Bright blue-violet, hafts white, veined; falls with yellow median stripe. 2n=42. Syn. I. foliosa, I. lamancei

I. fulva Ker-Gawl. Mississippi River Valley. 18-31" (45-80 cm). Red, coppery-red or orange-red, sometimes yellow or white. 2n=42. Syn. I. cuprea, I. rubescens

I. giganticaerulea Small. Coastal Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi. 28-71" (70-180 cm). Pale to dark blue; signal ridge yellow. 2n=44.

I. hexagona Wal. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina. 12-35" (30-90 cm). Bluish purple, lavender, sometimes white; signal yellow. 2n=44

I. nelsonii Randolph. Louisiana. 28-43" (70-110 cm). Reddish-purple, sometimes yellow. Formerly 'Abbeville Reds'.

I. ensata Thunb. Japan, northern China, eastern Asia. 24-35" (60-90 cm). Purple or reddish-purple, yellowish haft. 2n=24. Syn I. kaempferi Sieb

I. laevigata Fischer. Eastern Asia, Japan. 30-36" (76-160 cm.) Blue-purple or white, white signal. 2n=32.

I. maackii Maxim. Northeastern Asia. 32" (81 cm). Yellow. Fl. only 2" (5 cm) in diameter. Zhao keeps this as a separate species.

I. pseudacorus L. Europe, western Siberia, Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, North Africa. Introduced in eastern Asia, North America. 30-63" (75-160 cm). Yellow; sometimes with darker yellow signal, ringed or veined brown. 2n=34. Syn. I. acoroides.

var. bastardii (Spach.) Dykes. Lacks the darker yellow zone on the falls. Dykes: unblotched pale yellow occasional in normal populations, many places.

var. mandschurica Hort. Pale yellow

I. versicolor L. Eastern North America. 8-31" (20-80 cm). Light to dark blue, bluish-violet, reddish-violet, pink or white. 2n=105, 108

I. virginica L. Southeastern United States. 12-39" (30-100 cm). Blue, violet, lilac, lavender or occasionally pinkish-lavender or white. 2n=70, 71, 72. Syn. I. caroliniana, I. georgiana.

var. shrevei (Small) Anders. Mississippi Valley. Lavender to bluish violet; white. 2n=70 Syn. I. shrevei

I. henryi Baker. Central China. 6-10" (15-25 cm). White, blue or violet.

I. koreana Nakai. Korea. Yellow. .

I. minutoaurea Makino. Korea, China, cultivated in Japan. 3-4" (8-10 cm). Standards yellow; falls deeper yellow, with brown markings; style arms deeper yellow. 2n=22. Syn. I. minuta

I. odaesanensis Lee. Korea. 8" (20 cm). Standards white;falls white with frilly ridge on the hafts

I. proantha Diels. China. 3-5.5" (8-14 cm). Blue, pink, or white, ringed darker around a yellow crest. Syn. I. pseudorossii

var. valida (Chien) Y. T. Zhao. China. 11" (28 cm). Syn. I.pseudorossii var. valida

I. rossii Baker. Northern China, Korea, Japan. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Purple or violet;falls marked violet and yellow. 2n=34

I. speculatrix Hance. Hong Kong, Canton, Lantao Island, Fukien. 8-10" (20-25 cm), Lavender. Leaves are short and evergreen. 2n=44 Syn. I. grijsii, I. cavalierei.

I. verna L. Vern. Southeastern United States. 3-4" (8-10 cm). Lilac-blue, rarely white; orange median stripe on falls. 2n=42.

1. ruthenica Ker-Gawl. Eastern Europe and Asia. 1- 6" (3-15 cm). Violet; fragrant. 2n=84. Syn. I. caespitosa.

var. brevituba Maxim. Violet. Perianth tube shorter than the type.

var. nana (Maxim.) Mathew. Pale blue or violet. Smaller than type.

I. uniflora Pallas ex Link. Eastern Siberia, China. 8-20" (20-50 cm). Violet. 2n=28, 40, 42.

var. caricina Kitagawa.. Northern China. 4" (10 cm). A dwarf variant.

I. hookeri Penny. Labrador to Nova Scotia and Maine. 10-20" (25-30 cm), lavender blue. Syn. I. setosa subsp. canadensis

I. setosa subsp. setosa Pallas ex Link. Eastern Asia, Yukon, Alaska,. 6-35" (15-90 cm). Blue to purple, occasionally pink or white. 2n=38. Syn. I. arctica

subsp. hondoensis Honda. Japan. 30" (75 cm). Possibly 3n. Large purple flowers.

subsp. interior (Anders.) Hult. Alaska. Inland as opposed to coastal.

var. arctica (Eastw.). Alaska. Dwarf. Purple, variegated white. Syn. I. arctica

var. nasuensis Hara.. Japan. 40" (100 cm). Large flowers.

I. tridentata Pursh. Southeastern United States. 12- 28" (30-70 cm). Blue-violet to dark violet; fragrant. Syn. I. tripetala

I. bulleyana Dykes. Southwestern China. 14-18" (35-45 cm). Standards blue to violet; falls mottled and striped blue-violet on a white ground. 2n=40.

I. chrysographes Dykes. China, Burma. 14-18" (35- 45 cm). Reddish-violet to deep black with or without signal of gold lines. 2n=40.

I. clarkei Baker. Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, northeastern India, Yunnan, Tibet, upper Burma. 24" (60 cm). Blue to-violet with obvious signal. 2n=40. Syn. I. himalaica

I. delavayi Micheli. Southwestern China. 24"-47" (60-120 cm). Light to dark blue violet; white signal. 2n=40

I. dykesii Stapf. 36" (91 cm). Origin unknown. Deep violet-purple, signal of white and yellow veins. 2n=40. Plants available today may not match Dykes' clone. Probable hybrid.

I. forrestii Dykes. China and northern Burma. 14-16" (35-40 cm), sometimes as dwarf as 6" (15cm). Yellow; signal of dark lines and spots; fragrant. 2n=40.

I. phragmitetorum Handel-Mazzetti. China. 20" (50 cm). Dark blue; signal white, blue veined.

I. sanguinea Hornem. ex Donn. East of Lake Baikal to China, Korea, Japan. 12-30" (30-75 cm). Blue to red-violet with white signal, rarely white. 2n=28. Syn. I. nertschinskia, I. orientalis Thunb. non Miller, I. sibirica var. sanguinea,I. sibirica var. orientalis

I. sibirica L. Italy, eastern Europe to Lake Baikal, Turkey, Caucasus. 20-40" (50-100 cm). Blue-violet, occasionally white. 2n=28. Syn. I. angustifolia

I. typhifolia Kitagawa. Northeastern China, Inner Mongolia. 24-30" (60-75 cm). Deep blue-violet, brown at the hafts. 2n=28.

I. wilsonii C. H. Wright. China. 24-30" (60-75 cm). Yellow, brown-veined signal; fragrant. 2n=40.

I. bungei Maxim. Northern China to eastern Mongolia. 6-12" (15-30 cm). Standards violet.,falls striped violet.

I. cathayensis Migo. China: Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei. 6-10" (15- 25 cm). Violet

I. kobayashii Kitagawa. Northeastern China. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Blue with yellow markings.

I. loczyi Kanitz. Northeast Iran, Afghanistan, Tien Shan & Pamir Mtns., Baluchistan, China, Tibet, Mongolia. 6-12" (15-30 cm). Standards pale lavender-blue;falls veined blue-violet on a white or pale cream ground. Syn. I. tianschanica

I. polysticta Diels. China: Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet. 12" (30 cm). Yellow, netted purple-violet. Syn. I. farreri (uncertain). Mathew revision and Zhao remove from Spu. to Ten.

I. qinghainica Y. T. Zhao. Qinghai, China. 4" (10 cm.) Blue or violet.

I. songarica Schrenk. Central and eastern Asia: Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russian central Asia, Mongolia, northern China. Up to 32" (80 cm). Dull lavender-blue to violet.

I. tenuifolia Pallas. Kazakhstan, Russian central Asia, Mongolia, western China. 4-12" (10-30 cm). Pale lilac to bluish-violet;falls veined on cream ground. Syn. I. regelii

I. ventricosa Pallas. Mongolia, northwestern China, Siberia. 3-8" (8-20 cm). Violet.

I. bracteata Watson. Oregon & California. 12" (30 cm). Cream to yellow;falls veined brown or reddish-purple. 2n=40.

I. chrysophylla Howell. Oregon & California. 4-10" (10-25 cm). Cream or very pale yellow with dark veining. 2n=40.

I. douglasiana Herb. Oregon and California. 6-28" (15-70 cm). Flower color variable: white, cream, light or dark lavender to deep red-purple. 2n=40. Syn. I. watsoniana

I. fernaldii R. C. Fos. California. 8-18" (20-45 cm). Creamy yellow, variously veined. 2n=40.

I. hartwegii subsp. hartwegii Baker. California. 4-12" (10-30 cm). Pale yellow, deep yellow, lavender. 2n=40.

subsp. australis (Pish) Lenz. Cal. San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mtns., California. Up to 16" (40 cm). Dark purple or bluish-violet. Syn. I. tenax var. australis subsp. columbiana Lenz. Tuolumne Co., California. Pale yellow, veined gold. subsp. pinetorum (Eastw.) Lenz. Plumas Co., California. Cream, veined gold. Syn. I. pinetorum

I. innominata Henderson. Oregon and California. 6-10" (15-25 cm). Yellow, orange yellow, rust, lilac-pink, blue or violet, sometimes bicolored. 2n=40.

I. macrosiphon Torrey. California. 6-10" (15- 25 cm). Cream, yellow, lavender, blue with white signal; fragrant. Syn. I. amabilis

I. munzii R. C. Fost. California. Up to 30" (75 cm). Blue to deep reddish-purple. 2n=40.

I. purdyi Eastw. California. 8-14" (20-35 cm). Cream, veined brownish purple or washed lavender on thefalls 2n=40. Syn. I. landsdaleana

I. tenax subsp. tenax Douglas ex Lindl. Oregon and Washington. 6-14" (15-35 cm). Lavender, blue, violet, white, cream, or yellow. 2n=40.

var. gormanii (Piper) Fos. Oregon. Yellow. Syn. I. tenax

subsp. klamathensis Lenz. California. Buff to pink, veined brown or maroon. 2n=40.

I. tenuissima subsp. tenuissima Dykes. California. 6-12" (15-30 cm). Cream veined purple. 2n=40. Syn. I. citrina, I. humboldtiana

subsp. purdyiformis (R. C. Fos.) Lenz. California 12-14" (30-35 cm). Cream, veined lavender.

I. longipetala Herb. California. 12-24" (30- 60 cm). White, veined violet; yellow signal. 2n=86, 88.

I. missouriensis Nutt. Western North America, Canada to Mexico. 24" (60 cm.) Standards blue or lavender;falls veined blue or violet on a white ground, or color nearly solid with a "peacock's eye" signal; raised mid-line ridge flanked in yellow. 2n=38. Syn. I. tolmieana.

I. pariensis Welsh. Utah. 3-10" (7-24 cm). White Henderson suggests this as belonging to I. missouriensis. Status uncertain.

I. prismatica Pursh, ex Ker-Gawl. Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. 12-31" (30-80 cm). Pale violet, violet-blue, pink or white. Haft greenish-white veined violet. 2n=42.

var. austrina Fernald. Southern Appalachian Mtns.: Georgia and Tennessee; a larger form.

I. crocea Jacq. Kashmir. Up to 60" (150cm). Deep golden-yellow. 2n=40. Syn. I. aurea

I. graminea Linn. Central and southern Europe, Spain to Russia; Crimea, Caucasus. 8-16" (20-40cm). Standards red-violet;falls violet with white center veined violet; style arms purple; hafts green or brownish tinted; fragrant. 2n=34. Syn. I. colchica var. achtaroffii Prodan. Yellowish-white flowers. var. pseudocyperus (Schur) Beck. Czech Republic, Romania, Transylvania, Slovakia. Larger and more robust than the type; unscented.

I. kerneriana Ascher. & Sint. Northern Turkey. 8-12" (20-30 cm), rarely up to 22" (55 cm). Pale yellow or deep cream, with deeper yellow signal; slightly fragrant. 2n=18. Syn. I. graminifolia

I. lilacina Borbas. Origin unknown. 20-39" (50-100cm.). Lilac, lavender. 2n=44. Relationship to I. spuria unclear. Horticulturally distinct.

I. longipedicellata Czecz. Central Turkey, 14-16" (35-40 cm.) Pale yellow; sometimes regarded as syn. I. orientalis Status uncertain

I. ludwigii Maxim. Altai Region, Russia. Stem 1" (2-3 cm). Violet-blue. Not in cultivation. 2n=38. Rodionenko has proposed Series Ludwigia for this species.

I. monnieri De Candolle. Rhodes, not proven. 40-50" (100-127 cm). Lemon yellow. 2n=40. A hybrid of I. orientalis according to Mathew, perhaps with I. xanthospuria

I. orientalis Miller. 16-35" (40-90 cm). White with a large yellow signal. Syn. I. albida, I. ochroleuca

I. pontica Zapal. Spu. Central & northeastern Romania, western Ukraine, Caucasus. Stem 4" (10 cm). Violet, finely veined darker all over, white area in center offalls and on hafts. 2n=72. Syn. I. humilis, I. marschalliana

I. pseudonotha Galushko. Spu. Caucasia 24-30" (60-76 cm.) Light lilac, yellow signal.

I. sintenisii subsp. sintenisii Janka. Yugoslavia, Romania, southwestern Russia, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Turkey. 4-12" (10-30 cm). Blue-violet;falls white ground with violet veins. 2n=16, 32. Syn. I. lorea, I. urumovii

subsp. brandzae (Prodan) Webb & Chater. Northeastern Romania.Damp saline habitat; leaves very narrow. Syn. I. brandzae

var. urumovii Velen. Kohlein & BIS Guide to Species iris treat this as a variety, not a species.

I. spuria L. Spu. Europe, Algeria, Iran, central Asia. Mathew suggests the following divisions:

subsp. carthaliniae (Fomin) Mathew. Caucasus to Georgia (Central Asia). 36-40" (90-100 cm), sky blue or white. 2n=44 Syn. I. carthaliniae

subsp. demetrii (Akhv. & Mirz.) Mathew. Transcaucasia, Azerbaijan, Armenia. 28-35" (70-90 cm). Blue violet veined darker, also white. 2n=38. Syn. I. demetrii, I. prilipkoana

subsp. halophila (Pallas) Mathew & Wendelbo. European Russia to central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Siberia. 16-35" (40-90 cm.) Pale to dark yellow with darker veining. 2n=44. Syn. I. desertorum, I. gueldenstaedtiana, I. halophila, I. stenogyna

subsp. maritima (Lam.) Fourn. Central Spain, southeastern France. 12-20"(30-50 cm). Blue-violet, veined on white. 2n=38. Syn. I. maritima

subsp. musulmanica (Fomin.) Takht. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey.16-35" (40-90 cm). Pale to deep violet,veined darker, sometimes white; yellow signal. 2n=44. Syn. I. daenensis, I. klattii, I. musulmanica, I. violacea

subsp. notha (M. Bieb.) Aschers. & Graebn. Northern Caucasus. 28-35"(70-90 cm). Blue to bluish-violet. 2n=38 Syn. I. notha

subsp. sogdiana (Bunge) Mathew. Afghanistan, Iran, Kashmir, Pakistan, Russian central Asia to Mongolia and China. 4-14" (10-35 cm). Pale violet. 2n=44. Syn. I. lilacina, I. sogdiana.

subsp. spuria. Central Europe. 20-32" (50- 80 cm). Lilac, veined violet; yellow signal. 2n=22. Syn. I. subbarbatA. I. spuria var. danica Dykes. Syn. I. spuria subsp. spuria.

var. subbarbata (Joo) Dykes. Spu. Syn. I. spuria subsp. spuria

I. xanthospuria Mathew & Baytop. Turkey. 20-39" (50-100 cm). Yellow. 2n=40. Formerly known as 'Turkey Yellow'.

I. foetidissima L. Western Europe, Morocco, Algiers, the Azores, the Canaries. 12-35" (30-90 cm). Dull beige-blue blend. 2n=40.

I. lactea Pallas. Northeastern Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Russian central Asia, Tibet, China, Mongolia, Korea 2-16" (6-40 cm). Pale bluish-violet to white. 2n=40, 44, 50. Syn. I. biglumis, I. ensata Dykes et al., non Thunberg, I. fragrans, I. iliensis, I. moorcroftiana, I. oxypetala, I. pallasii, I. triflora. var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz.. China. Blue, violet. var. chrysantha Y. T. Zhao. Tibet. Yellow.

I. grant-duffii Baker. Lebanon, Israel, Syria. 9-12" (25-30 cm). Pale greenish-yellow, dotted black or veined purple. Syn. I. aschersonii , I. melanosticta. One of only two species in this series according to Mathew. 2n=24.

I. masia Stapf ex Fos. Southeastern Turkey, north and central Syria, Iraq. 10-28" (25-70 cm). Violet-blue with veining, heavier on the falls. falls have white ground. Syn. I. caeruleo-violacea (Gombault) Mouterde. 2n=24. One of only two species in the series according to Mathew.

I. melanosticta Bornm. Southern Syria, northern Jordan. 12-30" (30-70 cm). Yellow with few black veins on the falls. Sometimes included in I. grant-duffii Baker. 2n=24.

I. lazica Alboff. Black Sea, southwestern Caucasia. 6-10" (15-25 cm). Medium violet blue, yellow median stripe on falls 2n=32

I. unguicularis subsp. unguicularis Poir. Algeria, Tunisia, possibly Morocco. 4-8" (6-20 cm); leaves 18-38" (45-60 cm). Lavender, rarely pink, or white; yellow signal. 2n=38, 40, 48, 50. Syn. I. stylosa

subsp. cretensis (Janka) Davis & Jory. Greece; the Aegean Islands of Crete and possibly Saria. 2n=40. Syn. I cretensis.

subsp. carica (W. Schulze) Davis & Jory. Greece, Peloponnesus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon.

subsp. carica var. carica (W. Schulze) Davis & Jory. Greece: the east Aegean Islands of Cos & Rhodes, southwestern Turkey.

subsp. carica var. angustifolia (Boiss & Heldr.) Davis & Jory. Greece: the Ionian Islands, Peloponnesus and the Aegean Islands. 2n=40

subsp. carica var. syriaca (W. Schulze) Davis & Jory. Eastern Turkey, Syria & Lebanon.

Section Ophiris Zhao

I. anguifuga Y. T. Zhao ex Xue. Hubei, China. 12-20" (30-50 cm). Violet or blue, spotted purple. Mathew revision includes it in Series Tenuifoliae. Zhao prefers Section Ophioiris

Section Oncocyclus (Siemssen) Baker

I. acutiloba subsp. acutiloba C. A. Meyer. Transcaucasia. 3-10" (8-25 cm). Cream or pale violet, veined purple. Syn. I. fominii , I. szovitsii 2n=20.

I. acutiloba subsp. lineolata (Trautv.) Mathew & Wendelbo. Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan. Cream or buff, veined brown or purple. Syn. I. ewbankiana, I. helena, I. lineolata 2n=20

I. antilibanotica Dinsm. Syria. 10-16" (25-40 cm). Dark red violet bitone. 2n=20.

I. assadiana Chaudh., Kirkw. & Weym. Syrian desert. 6" (15 cm). Maroon to black, veined darker. Syn. I. barnumae var. zenobiae Mouterde in part.

I. atrofusca Baker. Israel: Judea and Negev deserts. 8-12" (20-30 cm). Standards wine colored;falls dark purple brown, occasionally yellow. 2n=20. Flora Palaestina, vol. 4 (1986), broadens this species to include I. jordana, I. atropurpurea var. gileadensis, I. hauranensis and I. loessicola Distribution N. Negev, Judean Desert, E. Samaria, the Beit Shan Valley, South Golan, Gilead (Mathew, revision).

I. atropurpurea Baker. Israeli Coastal Plain. 6-10" (15-25 cm). Standards blackish-purple;falls same but darker, yellow beard, black signal. 2n=20.

I. auranitica Dinsm. Jab Kulavb, El Hauran, Syria. 20" (50 cm). Yellow, spotted and veined brown, appearing bronze; yellow beard tipped purple; maroon or reddish signal. 2n=20.

I. barnumae subsp. barnumae Fos. & Baker. Egypt, Palestine, eastern Turkey, Iran, northeastern Iraq. 4-12" (10-30 cm). Purplish-violet; small darker signal. 2n=20.

I. barnumae subsp. demavendica (Bornm.) Mathew & Wendelbo. Northern Iran. Bluish-violet; white or creamy beard. Syn. I. demavendica

I. basaltica Dinsm. Syria. 28" (70cm), White or pale green veined and dotted purple black; Standards lighter than falls; dark signal; beard maroon or brownish purple, tipped yellow. 2n=20.

I. bismarkiana Damm. & Spreng ex Regel. Mount Hermon, Israel. 20" (50 cm). Standards white, heavily dotted and veined blue purple; falls cream or yellow ground, densely dotted and veined red brown to purple, large dark purple signal; dark purple beard. 2n=20. Syn. I. nazarena

I. bostrensis Mouterde. Southern Syria. 4-6" (10- 15 cm). Heavily spotted and veined deep purplish brown on a yellow green or pale brown ground; signal velvety, deep maroon; beard yellow, tipped purple. Syn. I. atropurpurea var. purpurea 2n=20

I. camillae Grossh. Transcaucasia. 8-16" (20- 40 cm), Color highly variable; many color forms described. 2n=20

I. cedretii Dinsm. ex Chaudh. Northwest Lebanon. 12-16" (30-40 cm), White, densely veined and spotted maroon; dark maroon signal patch, brownish or purplish beard. 2n=20

I. damascena Mouterde. Syria. 6-12" (15-30 cm). Bitone, purplish-brown, veined and spotted on creamy white ground; dark purple signal; purple beard. 2n=20

I. elizabethae Siehe. Southern or central Turkey. Straw-yellow, veined purplish-brown; large deep purplish-red signal; yellow beard. Related to I. acutiloba subsp. lineolata. Syn. I. ewbankiana var. sprengeri, I. sprengeri. Position uncertain. 2n=20

I. gatesii Fos. Southeastern Turkey, northeastern Iraq. 18-24" (45-60 cm). Grayish to purplish-brown, variable. 2n=20.

I. grossheimii Woron. Southern Transcaucasia. 5" (13 cm). Pink to dark red-toned bitone blend; blackish-brown signal. Probably a hybrid between I. lineolata and I. lycotis. 2n=20

I. haynei Baker. Mount Gilboa, northeast of Jinin, Israel. Dark purple to brownish purple, heavily dotted, blackish-purple signal; occasionally golden yellow with red signal. Syn. I. biggeri. 2n=20

I. hermona Dinsm. Mount Hermon, Israel. 15-18" (38-46 cm). Standards cream or whitish, some veining; falls creamy-yellow, veined brownish-purple; signal purplish-brown, beard brownish purple. 2n=20

I. heylandiana Boiss. & Reut., ex Boiss. Iraq. 6-16" (15-40 cm). Dark veined on a pale ground.

1. iberica subsp. iberica Hoffm. Caucasus. 6-8" (15-20 cm). Purple brown lines and dots on variable pale ground. 2n=20.

subsp. elegantissima (Sosnow.) Fedor. & Takht. Northeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia. 8-12" (20-30 cm), Cream or pale yellow ground with dark markings on the falls 2n=20. Syn. I. elegantissima. subsp. lycotis (Woron.) Takht. Armenia, northwestern and western Iran, Iraq, northeastern and southeastern Turkey. 12" (30 cm). Brownish-purple; entire flower heavily veined and dotted. Syn. I. lycotis 2n=20

I. keredjensis Parsa. Iran. 12" (30 cm). Lilac-white to bluish-white; deep violet beard.

I. kirkwoodii subsp. kirkwoodii Chaudh. Northern Syria, Turkey. 30" (75 cm). White or pale greenish, veined and dotted dark purple; deep purple signal; purple or brownish-purple beard. 2n=20

subsp. calcarea Dinsm. ex Chaudh. Northern Syria. Standards light blue, veined dark purple; falls pale green, veined and dotted dark purplish-red; velvety maroon signal; maroon beard. Syn. I. calcarea. 2n=20 var. macrotepala Chaudh. Syria. Similar to I. kirkwoodi subsp. kirkwoodii Chaudh. but with larger falls, purple or golden beard.

I. lortetii Barbey. Southern Lebanon near Israeli border. 12-20" (30-50 cm). White, veined and dotted pink or maroon; deep maroon signal. 2n=20. var. lortetii.. Pale pink.

var. samariae (Dinsm.) Feinbrun. Onco. Purple brown on a cream ground. 2n=20. Syn. I. samariae

I. mariae Barbey. Southern Israel, Sinai. 6-10" (15-25 cm). Lilac-purple to pinkish or violet with deeper veining; blackish-violet signal; purple beard. 2n=20. Syn. I. helenae Barbey, not I. helena (Koch) Koch.

I. meda Stapf. Iran. 4-10" (10-25 cm), Cream or whitish ground heavily veined and suffused golden brown; signal purple or brown; beard yellow. Syn. I. fibrosa 2n=20

I. nigricans Dinsm. Jordan. 8-12" (20- 30 cm), Brownish or blackish-purple; black signal patch. 2n=20.

I. nectarifera Guner. Turkish-Syrian border. 10-16" (25-40 cm). Creamy-white or yellowish, veined with brown or purple-brown; brownish-maroon signal, yellow beard. var. mardinensis Guner. Syria

I. paradoxa Steven. Armenia, Iran, Turkey. 4-10" (10-25 cm). Standards purple or violet; falls darker; blackish beard. 2n=20.

I. petrana Dinsm. Jordan, Israel. 8-10" (20-25 cm). Dark brown to dark purple. 2n=20

I. sari Schott ex Baker. Turkey. 4-12" (10-30 cm), Veined crimson or purple-brown over cream, pale yellow, or greenish ground; signal crimson or brown; beard yellow. 2n=20. Syn. I. manissadjianii, I. lupina.

I. schelkownikowii Fomin. Russian Azerbaijan. Standards veined dark brown or violet, darker than falls also other color forms; signal patch purple; yellow beard; slightly fragrant. May be a hybrid. 2n= 20 Syn. I. acutiloba var. schelkownikowii

I. sofarana subsp. sofarana Fos. Lebanon. 12-16" (30-40 cm), Cream ground, densely veined and spotted purple brown or violet; standards paler and with finer dots than falls; blackish-purple signal; dark purple beard. 2n=20.

subsp. kasruwana (Dinsm.) Chaudh. Lebanon. Coloring similar to I. sofarana Fos., with depth of color about the same on standards and falls Syn. I. kasruwana 2n=20

I. sprengeri Siehe. 4" (10 cm). Standards silvery-white veined purplish-red and black; falls yellow spotted and veined purplish-red; golden-yellow beard. Considered by some to be a I. elizabethae.

I. susiana L. Turkey. Stems 12-15" (30-38 cm.) Grayish ground, heavily veined and spotted darker; signal black. 2n=20. Long in cultivation in Turkey. Mathew: "bears a great resemblance to I. sofarana and I. basaltica and may be a form of one of these..."

I. swensoniana Chaudh., Kirkw. & Weym. Onco. Syria. 16" (40 cm). falls purple-black; standards lighter purple; signal dark maroon-black; beard yellow, tipped purple. Syn. I. barnumae var. zenobiae.

I. westii Dinsm. Lebanon. 12" (30 cm). Standards pale lilac veined darker; falls pale yellow, veined and blotched chocolate-purple; chocolate signal; purple beard. 2n=20. Recently restored to species status after being treated as a color form of I. sofarana.

I. yebrudii subsp. yebrudii Dinsm. ex Chaudh. Syria. 6-7" (15-18 cm). Standards yellow, lightly veined and dotted purple; falls yellow veined and speckled brownish-purple; dark purple signal; purple beard. 2n=20.

subsp. edgecombii Chaudh. Variant with larger flowers; standards white, veined maroon; falls pale yellow or greenish, veined and dotted reddish-purple; maroon-purple signal.

Section Regelia Lynch

I. afghanica Wendelbo. Northeastern Afghanistan. 6-14" (15-35 cm), Standards pale yellow; falls cream or white ground with heavy purple-brown veining; beard green. 2n=22

I. darwasica Regel. Russian central Asia: northeast Afghanistan, Tadjikistan. 6-16" (15-40 cm), Lilac or greenish buff veined purple; purple beard. 2n=22. Syn. I. suworowii

I. heweri Grey-Wilson & Mathew. Afghanistan. 4-6" (10-15 cm) rarely, 12" (30 cm), Purplish-blue; beard lilac. 2n=22

I. hoogiana Dykes. Turkestan. 16-24" (40-60 cm), blue; yellow beard. 2n=44.

I. korolkowii Regel. Central Asia, Tien Shan, Pamir-Altai Mtns., northeastern Afghanistan. 16-24" (40-60 cm). Veined dark maroon on an ivory or lavender ground; dark signal; dark beard. 2n=22, 33, 44.

I. kuschkensis Grey-Wilson & Mathew. Afghanistan. 12- 20" (30-50 cm). Purple to purplish-bronze veined deeper; beard pale purple

I. lineata Fos. ex Regel. Central Asia, northeastern Afghanistan. 6-14" (15-35 cm). Greenish-yellow ground veined brown or purple; blue beard. 2n=22, 44. Syn. I. karategina

I. stolonifera Maxim. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 12-24" (30-60 cm). Blended browns and purple; yellow or blue beard. 2n=44. Syn. I. leichtlinii, I. vaga

Section Hexapogon (Bunge) Baker

I. falcifolia Bunge. Central Asia. 4-8" (10-20 cm). Lilac-violet, veined darker. Syn. I. filifolia 2n=18

I. longiscapa Ledeb. Russian central Asia. 20-30" (50-75 cm). Lilac-violet; beard yellow. 2n=18.

Section Psammiris (Spach) J. Taylor

I. bloudowii Bunge ex Ledeb.. Siberia, central Asia: Tien Shan Mtns., northeastern China, Mongolia. 6-14" (15-35 cm). Yellow stained brown; yellow beard. 2n=22, 26.

I. curvifolia Y. T. Zhao. China: Xinjiang. 3-4" (8-10 cm). Yellow with brown lines; yellow beard.

I. humilis Georgi. Eastern Europe, southeastern Russia, Asiatic Russia, Siberia, Mongolia. 2-10" (5-25 cm), Yellow. Syn. I. arenaria , I. dahurica, I. flavissima subsp. stolonifera, I. pineticola. 2n=22.

I. mandschurica Maxim. Eastern Russia, Manchuria, possibly Korea. 4-6" (10-15 cm), Yellow, falls veined brown-purple. 2n=34

I. potaninii Maxim. Western China, central and eastern Tibet. Dwarf; flower stem subterranean. Yellow; yellowish or whitish beard. 2n=22. Probably will be transferred to Pseudoregelias. Syn. I. thoroldii. I. potaninii var. ionantha Y. T. Zhao. Psam. Violet.

Section Pseudoregelia

I. dolichosiphon subsp. dolichosiphon Noltie. Bhutan, China. Violet, mottled darker; beards white, tipped orange. 2n=22. subsp. orientalis Noltie. China, India, Burma. More blotching on falls

I. goniocarpa subsp. goniocarpa Baker. Western China, Nepal, southern Tibet, Himalayas. 4-12" (10- 30cm), Lavender-blue, mottled darker, rarely white. Syn. I.gracilis var. grossa Y. T. Zhao. 12" (30 cm) Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet. var. tenella Y. T. Zhao. 8-9" (20-23 cm). Qinghai, China

I. hookeriana Fos. Kashmir, India, Himalayas. 2-5" (5-12 cm), Lilac, purple or blue, mottled darker. Fragrant. 2n=22, 24.

I. kemaonensis D. Don ex Royle. India, Himalayas, Kashmir, southwestern China, Tibet. 4-5" (10-12 cm). Lilac-purple mottled and blotched darker; white beard tipped yellow; fragrant. 2n=22, 24 Syn. I. kamaonensis

I. leptophylla Ling. China. 6-14" (15-35 cm). Violet (pinkish-lavender) with dissected crest on falls, fragrant. Originally placed in Nep.; Mathew suggests it may belong in Psreg. Status uncertain

I. narcissiflora Diels. China: Sichuan. 8-10" (20-25 cm). Yellow; very narrow beard on the falls. May belong in Psregelias but status uncertain.

I. pandurata Maxim. Gansu and Qinghai, China. 1-5" (3-12 cm) stem length. Reddish purple with yellow beard

I. sichuanensis Y. T. Zhao. China: Gansu and Sichuan. 5-8" (13-20 cm). falls violet with yellowish beard or crest. Similar to I. leptophylla

I. sikkimensis Dykes. Presumably Sikkim. 6" (15 cm). Lilac or purple, mottled darker.

I. tigridia Bunge ex Ledeb. Mongolia, northwestern China, adjacent Russian Asia. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Lavender to blue, mottled purple; white beard, tipped yellow. 2n=22. (also additional counts of 20, 28, 32, 38, 40).

var. fortis Y. T. Zhao. China: Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi. 4-8" (10-20 cm). Violet.

I. albicans Lange. Saudi Arabia, Yemen. 12-24" (30-60 cm). Pure white or blue, greenish-yellow flush to the hafts, fragrant. White beard tipped yellow. 2n=44, 48. Syn. I. majoricensis

I. biliottii Fos. Black Sea, Turkey. 24-31" (60-80 cm). Standards bluish-purple; falls reddish purple. 2n=44; not known as wild plants.

I. germanica L. Possibly of Mediterranean origin, now widespread in cultivation. 25-30" (60-75 cm). Blue to violet bitone. 2n=44. Note: Although Mathew lists several 2n=48 plants here, we are restricting this name to the 2n=44 plants of obvious hybrid origin. The 2n=48 entities we have left under their long-familiar names, making no attempt to determine relationships. We agree with Mathew that they may well be ancient vegetatively propagated clones rather than valid species. Many synonyms.

I. kashmiriana Baker. Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iran, possibly introduced. 30-49" (65-125 cm). White or pale lilac-blue; white beard tipped yellow; fragrant. 2n=24, 28, 44, 48. Syn. I. bartonii.

I. albertii Regel. Turkestan, Kazakhstan, Asiatic Russia. 12-28" (30-70 cm), Lavender to purple-violet veined brownish-red, whitish or pale blue beard. 2n=24.

I. furcata Bieb. Caucasus mountains between Black Sea and Caspian Sea. 6-9" (15-23 cm). Purple to blue-violet. 2n=24. Although it looks like a dwarf aphylls, Rodionenko considers this distinct from I. aphylla. Randolph & Mitra found the chromosomes to be very different from those of I. aphylla.

I. imbricata Lindl. Caspian Sea, Iran, eastern Transcaucasia. 12-24" (30 60 cm). Pale yellow; hafts veined brown; beard yellow. 2n=24. Blue forms noted by Rodionenko. Related to I. taochia. Syn. I. obtusifolia, I. sulphurea, I. talischii

I. pallida Lam. subsp. pallida. Northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia. 16-43" (40-110cm.) Lilac-blue; yellow beard; fragrant. 2n=24. Syn. I. dalmatica.

var. dalmatica Hort. Syn. I. pallida subsp. pallida. I. pallida var. illyrica (Tom.) Dykes. Syn. I. pallida subsp. pallida

subsp. cengialtii (Ambr.) Fos. Northeast Italy, Slovenia. 12-18" (30-45 cm). Deep blue-purple; white beard sometimes tipped yellow or orange. Syn. I. cengialtii

I. perrieri Simonet ex Fourn. Savoy Alps, southern France. 6-12" (15-30cm). Deep violet. 2n=24. Has been included with I. aphylla to which it is not related.

I. purpureobractea B. Mathew & T. Baytop. Turkey. 12-20" (30-50 cm). Yellow or blue; conspicuous purple bracts.

I. variegata L. Central and eastern Europe. 8-18" (20-45 cm), Standards yellow;F. whitish or pale yellow, veined reddish-brown or violet; yellow beard. 2n=24. Syn. include I. corygei, I. dragalz, I. lepida., I. leucographa, I. reginae, I. rudskyi.

var. pontica Prodan. Romania. More robust form. 2n=24. Syn. I. mangaliae

I. belouinii Boiss. & Corn. Morocco. 36" (90cm.) Violet. 2n=48.

I. croatica Horvat. Croatia. 10-28" (26-70 cm). Bluish-violet. 2n=48. Mathew includes with I. germanica; Horvat felt it had affinities to I. aphylla. Status uncertain

I. cypriana Baker & Fos. Cyprus. 35" (90 cm). Bright lilac. 2n=48. Mathew includes with I. germanica. Status uncertain

I. junonia Schott & Kotschy. Southern central Turkey, endemic in Cilician Taurus. 20-26" (50-65 cm). White, pale cream, deep yellow, pale blue, purple. 2n=48 Relationship uncertain

I. mesopotamica Dykes. Southern Turkey, Syria, probably Israel. Probably not a wild plant. 35-47" (90-120 cm). Violet bitone. 2n=48.

I. trojana Kerner ex Stapf. Asia Minor. 24-28" (60-70 cm). Standards blue; falls reddish-purple; white beard tipped yellow; fragrant. 2n=48.

I. varbossiana Maly. Bosnia. 2n=24, 48. Blue-violet.

I. alexeenkoi Grossh. Eastern Transcaucasia, Russia. 8-12" (20-30 cm), Purplish-blue to deep violet, yellow beard. 2n=32.

I. attica Boiss. & Heldr. Greece, Yugoslavia, western Turkey. 2-4" (5-10 cm). Warm white, yellow, mustard, blue, purple, sometimes bicolored; bright blue beards. 2n=16. Syn. I. ochridana, I. pumila subsp. attica.

I. pseudopumila Tineo. Sicily, Malta, Gozo, southeastern Italy, western Croatia.6-10" (15-25 cm), Purple to violet, white or yellow, sometimes bicolored. 2n=16. Syn. I. panormitana

I. pumila subsp. pumila L. Yugoslavia, eastern Europe, Russia. 4-6" ( 10-15 cm). White, yellow, blue, purple, violet, bicolors; beards yellow or blue. 2n=30, 31, 32. Syn. I. aequiloba, I. attica. Many variants described by Prodan.

subsp. taurica (Loddiges) Rodionenko & Shevchenko. Widespread in former USSR, North Caucasus, Crimea and Volga Region. 2n=32 Syn. I. taurica

I. aphylla L. Central and Eastern Europe. 6-12" (15-30 cm). Pale to dark purple or violet-blue. 2n=48. Many synonyms

I. babadagica Rzazade & Goln. Eastern Caucasus. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Purple-violet. Related to I. furcata according to Rodionenko.

I. bicapitata Colasante. Gargano Penninsula, Italy, 12-16" or more, (30-40cm.) Flowers variable from white to yellow to purples, selfs and bicolors; beard blue or white but tipped yellow. 2n=40.

I. lutescens Lam. Northeastern Spain, southern France, Italy. 2-12" (5-30 cm). Yellow, violet, rarely white; yellow beard. 2n=40. Syn. I. chamaeiris, I. erratica, I. italica., I. olbiensis, I. statellae, I. virescens.

I. marsica I. Ricci & Colas. Central Italy, Abruzzes National Pk. 12-16" (30-40 cm). Violet. 2n=40

I. relicta Colasante. Italy. 12-16" (30-40 cm). Flower red-purple; beard white. 2n=40

I. revoluta Colasante. Italy. 26-28" (65-70 cm). Violet; fragrant. 2n=40.

I. sabina Terrac. Endemic to Mt. Gennaro, Italy. 8-10" (20-30 cm). Flowers dark red-purple; beards blue. 2n=40.

I. setina Colas. Sezze, Italy. Violet-purple. 11" (27 cm). Violet-purple. 2n=40.

I. subbiflora Brot. Portugal, Spain. 10-16" (25-40 cm). Purple, gray-blue, blue-violet or dark violet; beards white or violet, tipped yellow in throat. 2n =40.

var. lisbonensis (Dykes) Dykes. Stems more or less leafless; spathes green, not marked purple as in the species.

I. falcata Babalonas & Papanicalou. Central Greece. 1 1/2- 2" (3-5 cm.) Pale yellow. May be related to I. reichenbachii. 2n=24. Name is invalid because of Tausch's prior use. Status uncertain.

I. glaucescens Bunge. North of the Aral Sea to east of Lake Balkash. 4 - 7" (8-18 cm). Blue-violet. Reestablished as a valid species by Shevchenko, having been included previously in I. scariosa. Syn. I. eulefeldii

I. griffithii Baker. Eastern Afghanistan, central Asia. 8-14" (20-35 cm). Purple. Known only from old herbium sheets. Status uncertain.

I. reichenbachii Heuff. Greece, Bulgaria, Romania. 4-12" (10-30 cm). Yellow or purple. 2n=24, 48. Syn. I. balkana, I. bosniaca, I. macedonica, I. skorpilii

I. scariosa Willd. ex Link. Russia, Ural Mtns. to Tien Shan. 4-8" (10-20 cm). Red-violet, white, yellow, blue, purple, violet; beards yellow, white, blue. 2n=24.

I. schachtii Markgraf. Central and western Turkey. 4-12" (10-30 cm), Yellow or purple.

I. suaveolens Boiss. & Reut. Balkans to northwestern Turkey. 3-6" (8-15 cm). Yellow, with or without spot; purple or purplish-brown; beard yellow or bluish. 2n=24. Syn. I. glockiana, I. mellita, I. rubromarginata

I. taochia Woron. ex Grossh. Northeastern Turkey. 6-12" (15-30 cm), Pale yellow, gold, purple, violet; beards yellowish.

I. timofejewii Woron. Eastern Caucasus. 4-10" (10-25 cm). Reddish- violet to blue-violet; beard white, tipped purple. 2n=24.

Crested Species

Section Lophiris Mathew

I. confusa Sealy. Southwestern China. 12-36" (30-90 cm). Lavender or white with purple spotting around the yellow crests and signal patch. New material from China is lavender. 2n=30.

I. cristata Soland. Appalachian and Ozark Mtns. 3-4" (7-10 cm.) Lavender blue or white; white signal outlined darker blue; yellow to orange on the serrated crest. 2n= 32.

I. formosana Ohwi. Taiwan. 12-16" (30-40 cm). Lilac-blue with a yellow crest on the falls; tender! 2n=28, 35.

I. gracilipes Gray. Japan, China. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Lilac-blue or white; center of falls veined violet on white; white/yellow crest. 2n=36.

I. japonica Thunb. Japan, China. 18-31" (45-80 cm). White to pale lavender; signal of violet dots and stitches; crest orange. 2n=34, 36, 54.

I. lacustris Nutt. Great Lakes region. Lavender-blue, rarely white, with gold crests and white patch. 2n=32, 42.

I. latistyla Y. T. Zhao. Tibet. 2-5" (6-14 cm). Violet. Zhao placed this among the crested, but Mathew includes with Nep. as resembling I. decora. Status uncertain.

I. milesii Fos. Himalayas. 12-30" (30-76 cm). Pinkish-lavender, mottled with deeper purple on the falls; yellow fringed crest. 2n=26.

I. subdichotoma Y. T. Zhao. China: Yunnan. 10-16" (25-40 cm). Purple or violet, yellow crest. Syn. Pardanthopsis subdichotoma

I. tectorum Maxim. Central and southwestern China, Burma, Korea. 10-14" (25-35 cm). Lilac, mottled darker, rarely white; lacy white crest. 2n=28.

I. tenuis Watson. Clackamas County, Oregon. 12-14" (30-35 cm), White, or marked in blue; yellowish crest-like ridge. 2n=28.

I. wattii Baker. China, Burma. Canes up to 9 ft (2.7 m). Lavender, mottled violet; crest white, spotted orange-yellow. 2n=30.

I. barbatula Noltie & K. Y. Guan. China: NW Yunnan. 5 1/2" (14 cm.) Violet, minute orange beard

I. collettii Hooker. Southwestern China, Burma. Pale bright blue, yellowish-orange crest. 2n=28 Syn. I. duclouxii. var. acaulis Noltie. China: Sichuan, Yunnan. Pale to dark blue with white signal patch and yellow crest; stemless.

I. daliensis X. D. Dong & Y. T. Zhao. Yunnan, China. 3-4" (8-10 cm). Milk white; yellow crest.

I. decora Wallich. Himalayas, southwestern China, southern & western Tibet. 4-12" (10-30 cm). Pale blue-lavender to purple, fimbriate yellow-orange crest. 2n=28, 30, 36. Syn. I. nepalensis, I. yunnanensis

I. staintonii Hara. Central Nepal. Stem 1-3" (3-8 cm). Pale violet or blue; crest vestigial.

I. boissieri Henriq. Northern Portugal, Spain. 12- 16" (30-40 cm). Deep violet-purple; sparse yellow beard. 2n=36. Syn. I. diversifolia

I. filifolia var. filifolia Boiss. Southern Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Tangier. 10-18" (25-45 cm). Threadlike leaves. falls reddish-violet with median yellow stripe. 2n=32. var. latifolia Foster. Leaves wide.

I. juncea Poir. Southern Spain, Sicily, North Africa. 12-16" (30-40 cm). Bright yellow. 2n=32.

I. latifolia Miller. Northwestern Spain, French and Spanish Pyrenees. 24" (60 cm). Violet blue; yellow signal. 2n=42. Syn. I. xiphioides

I. serotina Willk. Southeastern Spain, possibly North Africa. 16-24" (40-60 cm). Violet-blue; falls with yellow central line.

I. tingitana Boiss. & Reut. Morocco, Algeria. 24" (60 cm). Pale to deep blue. 2n=28. Syn. I. fontanesii

I. xiphium L. Spain, southwestern France, Corsica, southern Italy, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. 16-24" (40-60 cm). Blue-violet, yellow, white; yellow to orange signal. 2n=34 Syn. I. taitii.

I. bakeriana Fos. Southern Turkey, northern Iraq, western Iran. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Standards and styles bluish lilac; falls white with deep blue tips, lines, and blotches. 2n=20.

I. danfordiae (Baker) Boiss. Turkey. 3-4" (7-10 cm.) Yellow dotted green. Deep yellow or orange crest. 2n=18, 27, 28. Syn. I. bornmulleri

I. histrio subsp. histrio Reichb. Fils. Southern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon. 2-3" (6-8 cm). Pale blue, blotched darker blue; yellow ridge. 2n=20. subsp. aintabensis (Baker) Mathew. Southern Turkey. Pale blue, splashed darker on fall; yellow or orange ridge. var. atropurpurea (Dykes) Dykes. Turkey. Black sheen on a dark red ground lacking a yellow central ridge on the falls. May no longer be in cultivation.

I. histrioides (G. F. Wilson) S. Arnott. North central Turkey around Amasya. 2-3" (6 –7 cm). Blue, variable in depth of color and amount of spotting on falls, ridge yellow. 2n=16,17. var. sophenensis (Fos.) Dykes. Turkey. Deep violet-blue, little veining or spotting, yellow ridge, narrow-petaled.

I. hyrcana, Woron. ex Grossh. Caspian Sea. Pale clear blue, bright yellow ridge. 2n=20 Now considered an. I. reticulata

I. kolpakowskiana Regel. Tien Shan Mtns., Turkestan. 6-8" (15-20 cm). Bitone, orchid and reddish-violet; yellowish-orange ridge on falls. 2n=20.

I. pamphylica Hedge. Southern Turkey. 4-8" (10- 20 cm). Standards blue; falls purple- brown with yellow blotch. 2n=20.

I. reticulata Bieb. Herm. Turkey, Iran, Iraq, former USSR, Caucasus, and Transcaucasus. 3-6" (7-14 cm.) Blue, violet, purple. 2n=20

I. tuberosa L. Originally considered an Iris it was then moved tp the Genus Hermodactylus because of its strange tuber-like rhizomes. Brian Mathew has recently noted that seedlings will form a bulb just like other reticulates but shortly the bulb sends out a stolon, that develops into a tuber, and the bulb disappears. Now returned to its old place in the genus Iris. Syn. Hermodactylus tuberosus (Linn.) Salisb.

I. vartanii Fos. Herm. Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan. 3-4" (8-10 cm). Slate-blue to white; yellow median ridge. 2n=20.

I. winkleri Regel. Herm. Tien Shan Mtns., Turkestan, central Asia. Blue-violet. Once cultivated by Olga Fedtchenko.

I. winogradowii Fomin. Herm. Abkhazia, Georgia (Central Asia). 4-6" (10-15 cm.) Pale primrose yellow with green spots on the falls. 2n=16.

I. aitchisonii (Baker) Boiss. Afghanistan, Pakistan. 6-20" (15-50 cm). Deep yellow or violet; sometimes bicolored yellow with brown or violet markings. 2n=34.

I. albomarginata R. C. Fos. Central Asiatic Russia. 2-3" (5-7 cm); 8-12" (20 –30 cm). Pale blue; falls with yellow and white ridges or crest. Syn. I. caerulea, 2n=26, pale blue violet with darker markings

I. aucheri (Baker) Sealy. Northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, western Iran. 6-16" (15-40cm). Blue to near-white, yellow ridge on falls. 2n=22. Syn. I. assyrica, I. fumosa, I. sindjarensis. Possibly syn. I. moabitica

I. baldschuanica B. Fedtsch. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Yellow or cream with some pink or violet tinting. Syn. I. rosenbachiana var. baldschuanica 2n=22

I. bucharica Fos. Northeastern Afghanistan, Tadjikistan. 8-16" (20-40 cm). 2n=20, 22; Golden yellow, white and yellow bitone, near-white. The plain yellow variant Has long been known in gardens as I. orchioides, but true I. orchioides Carriere is a different species.

I. cabulica Gilli. Afghanistan. 6" (15 cm). White or pale lilac, yellow crest.

I. capnoides Vved. Central Asia: Tien Shan Mtns. 3-6" (8-15cm). Standardspale violet, falls smoky grayish-green. 2n=20

I. carterorum Mathew & Wendelbo. Eastern Afghanistan. 3-4" (7-10 cm). Yellow-green, spotted purple-black.

I. caucasica subsp. caucasica Hoffm.. Central and eastern Turkey, northeastern Iraq, northwestern Iran, Caucasus. 6" (15 cm). Green to yellowish green with yellow ridge on falls. 2n=20.

subsp. turcica B. Mathew. Central and northeastern Turkey. 2n=20.

I. cycloglossa Wendelbo. Western Afghanistan. 8-16" (20-40 cm). Blue-violet with large S.; falls with large white spot or yellow blotch. 2n=28.

I. doabensis Mathew. Northeastern Afghanistan. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Deep yellow, darker yellow crest on falls.

I. drepanophylla subsp. drepanophylla Aitch. & Baker. Iran, Turkmenistan, north and west Afghanistan. 4-12" (10- 30 cm). Yellow to greenish. subsp. chlorotica Mathew & Wendelb. Northeastern Afghanistan. Silvery-green with a whitish or pale yellowish-green crest on the falls.

I. edomensis Sealy. Jordan. Less than 4" (10 cm). falls creamy white, heavily striped and blotched violet; Standards erect, more lightly marked; crest yellow.

I. fosteriana Aitch. & Baker. Northeastern Iran, Turkmenistan, northwestern Afghanistan. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Standards rich purple; falls creamy-yellow; yellow style arms. 2n=18.

I. galatica Siehe. Central to north Turkey. 2-5" (5-12 cm). Reddish-violet self or bitone, greenish yellow, or silvery purple Standards 2n=24. Syn. I. eleonorae, I. purpurea, I. persica var. persica

I. graeberiana Van Tubergen ex Sealy. Central Asia, exact area not known. 6-14" (15-35 cm). Blue tinted violet or lavender, strongly veined around the crest. 2n=50 Syn. I.zenaidae; some material is hybrid.

I. hippolyti Vved. Uzbekistan, Central Asia. 4" (10cm). Pale violet, yellow signal; white crest.

I. hymenospatha subsp. hymenospatha Mathew & Wendelbo. Southern Iran. 3-5" (7-12 cm). White, veined violet; falls zoned bluish-violet; crest yellow. 2n=24. Syn. I. persica var. isaacsonii 2n=24 subsp. leptoneura Mathew & Wendelbo. Northwestern Iran, eastern Iraq. Wider, more curved leaves lacking the prominent silver veins of the typical. 2n=20

I. inconspicua Vved. Central Asia: Tien Shan Mtns. Approximately 2" (5 cm) total height. Pale lilac, spotted green; white crest.

I. kopetdagensis (Vved.) Mathew & Wendelbo. Northeastern Iran, Turkmenistan, northwestern and central Afghanistan. 4-14" (10-35 cm). Green; yellow crest. 2n=18.

I. kuschakewiczii B. Fedtsch. Russian central Asia. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Pale violet; falls marked very dark violet; white crest. 2n=22

I. leptorhiza Vved. Russian Central Asia. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Violet-green. 2n=22

I. linifolia (Regel) O. Fedtsch. Central Asia: Tien Shan and Pamir-Altai Mtns. 2-4" (5-10 cm). Pale yellow; falls darker; white crest. 2n=20.

I. magnifica Vved. Central Asia. 12-24" (30- 60 cm). White or pale lilac; whitish crest; yellow signal. 2n=26

I. maracandica Vved. Central Asia: Tadjikistan, Pamir-Altai Mtns. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Pale yellow. 2n=20

I. microglossa Wendelbo. Northeastern Afghanistan. 4-16" (10-40 cm). Pale lavender-blue to near-white; white or very pale yellow crest. 2n=30

I. narbutii O. Fedtsch. Central Asia. 4-6" (10- 15 cm). Mathew revision: styles yellow; falls yellow & violet; Standards bright purple, deflexed. 2n=22. Syn. I. dengerensis, I. hissarica

I. narynensis O. Fedtsch. Central Asia: Tien Shan Mtns. 2" (5 cm) stem height. Pale violet, falls darker.

I. nicolai Vved. Northeastern Afghanistan, Russia. 5-6" (12-15 cm). Pale lilac or nearly white; falls lined and marked violet, prominent orange crest. 2n=22. Syn. I. rosenbachiana var. alboviolacea

I. nusairiensis Mouterde. Syria. 3-4" (7-10 cm). Pale blue or whitish; darker veining on the hafts; creamy or very pale yellow crest. 2n=24

I. odontostyla Mathew & Wendelbo. Afghanistan. 5" (13 cm). Grayish or silvery violet; crest orange-yellow.

I. orchioides Carriere. Central Asia. 8-14" (20- 35 cm). Pale yellow tinted pale purple; crest yellow, raised and toothed. Not "orchioides" of gardens, which is a form of I. bucharica. 2n=26, 30.

I. palaestina (Baker) Boiss. Eastern Mediterranean, Israel, Lebanon coast, Jordan, southern Syria. Under 6 " (15 cm.) Green. 2n=24.

I. parvula Vved. Central Asia. 4-5" (10-12 cm). Standards and falls pale greenish yellow, smudged darker; crest greenish-yellow, toothed. 2n=18.

I. persica L. Southern and southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, northern Iraq. 4" (10 cm). Color variable: Silvery-gray, beige-tan, gray-green; blade of falls dark purple or brown; crest prominent, yellow, dotted brown or purple. 2n=20. Syn. I. bolleana, I. issica, I. sieheana var. magna. Southern Turkey. Silvery- gray, marked with purplish-red on the falls. Syn. I. haussknechtii, I. sieheana

var. mardinensis. Silvery-gray, marked with purplish-red on the falls.

I. planifolia (Miller) Fior. & Paol. Southern Spain, Portugal, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, Morocco, Algeria, Libya. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Bluish-violet, sometimes white; yellow crest with darker bluish-violet veining. 2n=24 Syn. I. alata, I. scorpioides

I. platyptera Mathew & Wendelbo. Afghanistan, Pakistan. 3-6" (8-14 cm). Smokey brownish purple or violet; yellow crest.

I. popovii Vved. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 4 1/2" (12 cm.) Blue to light violet, possibly with a yellow blaze on the falls.

I. porphyrochrysa Wendelbo. Central Afghanistan. 4" (10 cm). Bronze with a deep yellow blade on the falls; crest orange, toothed.

I. postii Mouterde. Iraq, eastern Syria, eastern Jordan. 3-8" (8-20 cm). Pale lavender ground, blotched and veined dark violet; crest yellow with a white band. Syn. I. palaestina var. caerulea 2n=24

I. pseudocaucasica Grossh. Northern Iran, northeastern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, southern Transcaucasia. 2-8" (6-20 cm). Yellow, yellow-green or ice blue or blue-purple; crest yellow. 2n=20. Confused with I. caucasica. 2n=20

I. regis-uzziae Feinb. Israel, southern Jordan. 4" (10 cm). Pale blue, lilac or greenish-yellow. 2n=20.

I. rosenbachiana Regel. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. Dwarf. Deep red and violet; bright orange crest. 2n=20: plants with 2n=22 may represent I. popovii which is little known.

I. schischkinii Grossh. Russia. 8-12" (20-30 cm). Green to yellowish green; yellow crest. May be the same as I. caucasica

I. stenophylla subsp. stenophylla Hausskn. & Siehe ex Baker. Southern Turkey. 2-5" (5-12 cm). Violet-blue or lilac-blue, falls darker; yellow crest. 2n=26. Syn. I. heldreichii, I. tauri. 2n=26

subsp. allisonii Mathew. Southern Turkey. Pale blue; falls streaked and spotted darker. No longer separated as a valid subspecies

I. stocksii (Baker) Boiss. Central and southern Afghanistan, western Pakistan. 4-8" (10-20 cm). Lavender or blue violet; yellow crest.

I. subdecolorata Vved. Kazakhstan, Tashkent. 2" (5 cm). Dull greenish or lilac; falls veined violet; green blotch; dissected white crest. Syn. I. almaatensis

I. tadshikorum Vved. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 2" (5 cm). Pale violet; white crest. 2n=18

I. tubergeniana Fos. Uzbekistan, Syr Darya Mtns. 4-6" (10- 15 cm). Yellow, veined and dotted greenish-violet; crest fimbriate. 2n=20

I. vicaria Vved. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 8-20" (20-50 cm). Pale bluish violet, veined darker; crest yellow or whitish; yellow blotch. 2n=22, 46.

I. vvedenskyi Nevski. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 4" (10 cm). Yellow; orange crest.

I. warleyensis Fos. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns., Samarkand, Bokhara. 8-18" (20- 45 cm). Pale to deep violet or blue-violet; crest yellow or white. 2n=24.

I. wendelboi Grey-Wilson & Mathew. Southwestern Afghanistan, Iran. 4" (10 cm). Deep violet; crest golden yellow

I. willmottiana Fos. Central Asia: Pamir-Altai Mtns. 6-10" (15-25 cm). Lavender, violet-blue blotches and lines on white; crest white. 2n=20.

I. xanthochlora Wendelbo. Northeastern Afghanistan. 4-6" (10-15 cm). Greenish yellow; deep yellow crest. 2n=14, 18.

I. zaprjagajewii N. Abramov. Central Asia: Pamir Mtns. 4-6" (10-15 cm). White; with some light bluish or lilac staining, yellow crest. 2n=22.

I. zenaidae Vved. Russian central Asia, Tien Shan Mtns. Violet-blue; haft of falls spotted violet; crest white or violet. Syn. I. graeberiana

New Group, Formerly Genus Belamcanda and Genus Pardanthopsis

I. dichotoma Pall. Called Vesper Iris because it opens flowers in the evening and they close the next day. Blooms end of summer. Syn. Pardanthopsis dichotoma; retained in Iris by other authors.

I. pampaninii. Called Blackberry Lily because of seeds and pod. Blooms end of summer Syn. Belamcanda chinensis, Belamcanda flabellate Grey.

I. xnorrissii. Lenz. Hybrids involving the above two species. Named in honor of Sam Norris who first made this cross, Introduced by Park Seed as ‘Candy Lilies’