Dear Fred; I did some research here and meant to reply earlier. UNfortunately it beats me. I can locate Shilka, but no orchid-like iris - Maybe I. laevigata with a large and more purple flower. Not much. Jim W. ps - Now I see your ID as I dichotoma. Although the typical flowers are sort of 'orchid' in color, they are among the smaller iris flowers native there. There are numerous flowers per stalk and held high above the foliage in mid-summer at a time when no other iris is likely to be blooming. They are very hardy. I have seen them in Inner Mongolia in abundance. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +