S.I. Ali

Perennial herb; bulb c. 4-5 cm in diameter, globose, scales fleshy; bulbils and stolons not known. Stem 45-80 x 1.0 cm. Leaves sessile, 3-4 in loose whorls, 12-18 x 4-7 cm, lanceolate or elliptic, acute-acuminate. Peduncle 13-18 cm. Flowers (3)-5-20 in condensed raceme. Bracts 1-2 per flower, 6-10 x 0.5-2.0 cm, linear-lanceolate. Pedicel 2.5-3.0 cm. Tepals straw yellow or greenish-yellow, campanulate, c. 3-4 (-5) x 1.2-1.5 (-2.0) cm, oblong-lanceolate, acute. Nectaries, circular, 2 mm in diameter, at the base of perianth segment. Filament c. 2.2 mm, glabrous, anthers 7-8 mm. Ovary c. 10-11 x 4 mm, style 2.5-3.0 cm, trifid for c. 2 mm, papillose towards apex, stigma reflexed; stipe 1.0-2.0 mm. Capsule 2.0-3.0 x 2.0-3.0 cm, with 4 mm wide wings.

Fl. Per.: June

Type: USSR, Khodzha-Kalabani, 11.5.1886, Radde (LE-not seen).

Distribution: Turkmenistan, Iran and Kashmir, 1500 m.

Cultivated in NE China and bulbs are used medicinally (Xinqi & V. H. Mordak l. c.).