Iridaceae

G. atroviolaceus Boiss., Diagn. ser. l{13):14 (1854). Syn: G. aleppicus Boiss., op cit. 13 (1854); G, armenlicus Hausska. ex J.N. Gerard in Garden & Forest 5:318 (3892)! G. sintenisii Baker, Handb. irideae 202 (1892)! G. szonvîtsii Grosaa. in Beih. Bot Centr. 44{2):206 (1927). Ic: Bot. Mag. 112: t. 6897 (1886), as G. kotschyanus; Wendelbo, Tulips & Irises of Iran 79, t, 84 (1977). Figure 16. Map 67.
Conn tunic coarsely relicuiate-fibrous. Stem 30-60 cm. Leaves 3. lamina (2.5-)3.S-S(-8) ram broad, glaucous, with equidistant parallel veins. Spike 4-8 (-11)-flowered, dense, secund. Perianth deep violet-purple, flushed lilac within, tube markedly curved, posterior {10-) 12-15 mm, anterior (14-)16-18 mm; lower lateral segments streaked with white or pak iliac with 2 dark violet lines; upper median segment distinctly hooded in vivo, very shortly clawed, 23-27 (-35) x 10-13 mm, upper lateral 23-25(-30) x 842 mm, lower median 20-22 (-27) x 7-9 mm, lower lateral narrowly clawed in lower 1/3, 18-27 x 9-12 mm. Anthers (10-)12-15 mm, filaments 9-15 mm. Capsule ellipsoid, to 1.8 cm; seeds ovoid, c. 2.5 x 2 mm, dark brown, »swinged. Fl. 3-6(-7). Fallow fields, cornfields, disturbed steppet many calcareous slopes, roadsides, 650-2150 m.
Syntypes: [Iran] circa Ispahan, Aucher 5352(G); ad Teheran inter segetes, Kotschy 28 (G, photo! W),
Mainly Inner Anatolia.. A2(E) Istanbul: nr American College. B. Post! A4 Bolu: Güvem, S.E. of Gerede, 1400 m, Mathew & Tomlinson 4560! A5 Amasya: nr Amasya, Manisa. 158! A7 Sivas: Refardye to Suşehri, 885 m, Balls 258! A8 Erzurum: Bayburt to Erzurum, in Kassuklu De., v 1853, Huet (type of G. petraeus Boiss. &. Huet, nom.nud.)! B3 Eskişehir: Sivrihisar to Eskişehir, T. Baytop (ISTE S1197)! B4 Ankara: d. Polatlı, 135 km S.W. of Ankara, 720 m, Hub.-Mor. 13971! B5 Yozgat: Akdağmadeni to Ankara, 1450 m, Ekim 4880! B6 Sivas: 28 km N.W. of Divriği, 1500 m, Sorger 60-42-84! B7 Elazig: Shushnas(Suşnaz), N.of Kharput(Harcat), Sint. 1889:269(type of G. armen-iacus & G. sintenisü)! B8 Erzurum: Pasinler to Horasan, 1650 m, D. 29434! B9 Van: 5 km W, of Özaip to Erçek, 2150 m, D. 44248! B10 Kars: pass S. of Iğdir, 1100 m, Mathew & Tomlinson 4278! C6 Gaziantep: Aintab (Gaziantep), c. 1000 m, Haradj. 1907:1463! C7 Urfa; Biredjik(Birecik), nr Tschiflik (Çiftlik), 21 iv 1888, Sint, 1888:356 p.p.! C8 Mardin: 13 km from Savur to Midyat, 1100 m, D.42507!
W, Syria,Transcaucasia, N.Iraq,Iran,Transcaspia. Ir.-Tur.element. Sometimes gathered as a cut flower - is Turkish, 'Kiraş Susam' - and occasionally cultivated in European gardens. Related to G. persiacus Boiss., endemic to Iran.