Iris sogdiana Bunge in Mém. Sav. Etr. Pétersb. 7: 507. 1847.
Rhizome thick, covered by brown scales, producing roots on the lower side. Plant height (10-) 35-50 (-120) cm. Leaves radical and cauline, long, straight, dark green, tips and margins scarious, as long as the scape, which they cover partly. Inflorescence borne in a single head, consisting of 3-4 (-5) flowers. Pedicel remains enclosed in spathe. Flowers 4-6 cm in diameter, pale blue varying to greyish-lilac. Falls 3.5-4.0 cm long; haft narrow, longer than blade. Standard of the same colour, shorter than falls.
Fl. Per.: June.
Type: "Hab. Unweit Kermine bei Melik, Aug. 1841 (specimina fructu maturo); in horto sub finem Junii mensis floret".
Distribution: Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, N.E. Iran, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Kopet Dag and Tien Shen mountains; China, Gansu, Xinjiang.
I. spuria L. subsp. sogdiana (Bunge) B. Mathew was not reported from Kashmir by B. Mathew (l.c. 1981) however, Bowley (l.c.) reports it from Kashmir and Pakistan. Köhlein (l.c. 170) treats this taxon as a separate species.
