Xiphion stocksii Baker in Gard. Chron. Ser. 2. 5: 723. 1876; Juno stocksii (Baker) Klatt in Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12: 362. 1882.
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.
Fl. Per.: March-April.
Type: Dooband Chehel Tun, Stocks 961 (K).
We have followed B. Mathew (l.c. 1975) in accepting the above-mentioned specimen as the Type, though the protologue does not mention the collection number.
Distribution: Central and South Afghanistan and Pakistan (north Baluchistan).
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.
