S. I. Ali & Brian Mathew

I. notha M. Bieb., Fl. Taur.-Cauc. 3: 45. 1819; Boiss., Fl. Or. 5: 128. 1884; Köhlein, Iris: 169. 1987.

Leaves 1.2-1.3 cm wide, 65-75 cm long, linear. Flower diameter up to 15 cm; bright deep blue or violet blue with median yellow stripe down the middle of the falls; blade rounded ovate narrowing sharply into the haft; haft length equal to or longer than that of blade; standard almost vertical; same colour as falls.

Type: "Habitat in collibus herbidis promontorii-Caucasici septentrionalis, cira thermas Constantino montanas, Stauropolin et albi".

Distribution: Caucasus, N. Caucasia, Transcaucasia (Bowley, l.c.) and Kashmir (Köhlein, l.c.).

Flowering Period: June-July. Köhlein (l.c. 1969) reports I. notha M. Bieb. (I. spuria subsp. notha (M. Bieb.) Aschers & Graebn.) from Kashmir, however, B. Mathew (l.c. 118) and Bowley (l.c. 191) do not record this taxon from Kashmir. It is being included here as per report of Köhlein (l.c.).