S. I. Ali & Brian Mathew

Roots not swollen, elongated. Rhizome covered by persistent fibrous leaf bases. Leaf 10-30 ( 2.0-4.0 mm, erect, ribbed, pointed at the tip. Peduncle (stem) short, bracts 3, outer 10-15 cm long, 2 inner ones shorter; 1-2 flowers. Flowers 4-7 cm in diameter; perianth tube 10-15 cm long, falls 5-6 cm long, white to cream with purple blue veins, claw 3-3.5 cm long, blade 2.0-2.5 cm long, 1-2 cm broad; standards 4.5-5 cm long, 0.8-1.0 cm broad, oblanceolate, bluish purple. Filaments 1-1.2 cm long, anthers 1.3-1.8 cm long. Styles 3.5-4.0 cm long, 0.7-0.8 cm wide, lobes 7.0 mm long, stigma bilobed; ovary 1.2 cm long, spindle-shaped. Capsule 4-7 cm long, c. 2.0 cm in diameter, with 6 veins, broadly ellipsoid with a long slender beak; pedicel c. 1.5 cm long.

Fl. Per.: May-June.

Type: Kan-Szu N. 82. In m. Nan-san collinis circa Czia-kou-ye, 6.10.1879, Loczy (BP).

Distribution: From Tien Shan and Pamir Alai through N.E. Iran and Afghanistan to Pakistan (Chitral and Baluchistan) (F. Cohen l.c. 198).