Iris stocksii (Baker) Boiss.

A plant of dry stony hills, 1150-2700 m. It is reported to be eaten (Burkill, Work. List Fl. Pl. Baluch. 97 (reprint ed.) 1956). Attempts to grow it in England have not been very successful.

Roots long and slender, not swollen. Bulb tunic dark brown, forming a long neck. Leaves 4-5, clustered at the flowering time, becoming spaced out exposing the internodes later; lower leaves up to 21 cm long, 0.6-2.1 cm wide, margin conspicuously white. Peduncle (stem) hidden at the flowering time, elongating later, exposing the internodes, unbranched, 1-4 flowered. Bract and bracteole 4.5-6 cm long. Perianth 5-6 cm in diameter, bluish violet or lavender with a yellow crest; tube 3-3.5 (-5) cm long. Falls 3.5-4.5 cm long; claw c. 2.5 cm long, 2.0-2.3 cm broad. Standard 1.0-2.0 cm long, 4-6 mm wide, spreading. Filaments 1.0-1.1 cm long, anthers 1.1-1.3 cm long. Style branches 3.0-3.1 cm long, lobes c. 1.0 cm long. Capsule 3.5-5.0 cm long, ellipsoid, obtuse. Seeds c. 5 mm long, ovoid-globose, acuminate, dark brown, aril absent.

Distribution: Central and South Afghanistan and Pakistan (north Baluchistan).

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Xiphion stocksii Baker in Gard. Chron. Ser. 2. 5: 723. 1876; Juno stocksii (Baker) Klatt in Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12: 362. 1882.