View source for Biology:Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima

{{Short description|Subspecies of flowering plant}}
{{Infraspeciesbox
|image =  Iris elegantissima.jpg
|status =
|status_system =
|status_ref =
|genus = Iris
|species = iberica
|subspecies = elegantissima
|authority = (Sosn.) Fed. & [[Biography:Armen Takhtajan|Takht.]]
|synonyms = {{Species list
|Iris elegantissima | Sosn.
|Iris speciosissima | Filippov}}
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=plantlist>{{cite web |title=Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima (Sosn.) Fed. & Takht. is an accepted name|date= 23 March 2012 |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321971  |publisher=theplantlist.org ([[Biology:The Plant List|The Plant List]]) |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>
}}

'''''Iris iberica'' subsp. ''elegantissima''''' is a subspecies in the genus ''[[Biology:Iris (plant)|Iris]]'', subgenus ''[[Biology:Iris subg. Iris|Iris]]'' and section ''Oncocyclus''. It is a subspecies of ''[[Biology:Iris iberica|Iris iberica]]'' and is a rhizomatous [[Biology:Perennial plant|perennial]], from [[Place:Armenia|Armenia]], [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]] and [[Religion:Iran|Iran]]. It has large, thin and falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves, slender stem with a single flower between April and May. It has a white, cream or pale yellow ground, which is covered in dark veining or speckling in violet, mauve, purple or brown shades. The larger standards are paler, normally white and less veined. The falls, have darker veining and a dark signal patch and brown or purple beard. It is commonly known as ''Iris elegantissima'', especially in Europe and Russia. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, but normally needs some protection during the winter period.

==Description==
It is classed as an mezo-[[Biology:Xerophyte|xerophyte]] (meaning it likes medium to dry habitats),<ref name=Tamar>{{cite journal |last1=Nadiradze |first1=Tamar |last2=Eradze |first2=Nino |date=2014  |title=In Situ Conservation of Some Rare and Endemic Species of Iridaceae Family in National Botanical Garden of Georgia |url=http://www.erjournal.ru/journals_n/1403948654.pdf  |journal=European Researcher |volume=77 |issue=6 |doi=10.13187/issn.2219-8229 |access-date=29 January 2016|doi-access=free }}</ref> and has stoloniferous rhizomes which are about 3&nbsp;cm long. Underneath the rhizomes, it has very long secondary roots.<ref name=irisbotanique>{{cite web |title=Chapter I (Part 5) I Oncocyclus |url=http://irisbotanique.over-blog.com/article-chapitre-i-partie-5-les-oncocyclus-i-124148129.html |publisher=irisbotanique.over-blog.com |language=fr |access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref>

It has large,<ref name=amaryllis>{{cite web |title=Iris Iberica Subsp. Elegantissima – Product Detail |language=tr |url=http://www.amaryllisbahcesi.com/iris-iberica-subsp-elegantissima-u-509.html |publisher=amaryllisbahcesi.com |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> ribbon-like,<ref name=irisbotanique/> and falcate (sickle-shaped),<ref name=redbook>{{cite web |first=M.E. |last=Oganesian |title=Iris elegantissima Sosn. |date=2001 |url=http://www.mnp.am/red_book_fauna/eng/p335.html |publisher=mnp.am |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=plantsmen>{{cite web |title=Oncocyclus, Regelia and Reglio-cyclus Irises, The Plantsmen, Buckshaw Gardens, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset
|url=http://files.srgc.net/archibald/Plantsmen/Oncocyclus_Regelia_Regelio-Cyclus_Irises.pdf |publisher=srgc.net (Scottish Rock Garden Society) |access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> leaves, that can grow up to {{convert|20|-|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} long,<ref name=irisbotanique/>

It has a slender stem or [[Biology:Peduncle (botany)|peduncle]], that starts to grow in March,<ref name=irisbotanique/> up to {{convert|20|-|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall.<ref name=zahradaweb>{{cite web |first=Jana |last=Klečková |title=Irises important garden IV. – Aril irises hybrids and hřebínkaté |date=17 January 2012 |url=http://zahradaweb.cz/kosatce-vyznamne-pro-zahrady-iv-aril-hybridy-a-hrebinkate-kosatce/ |publisher=zahradaweb.cz |language=cs |access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=alpine>{{cite web |title=Iris iberica |url=http://encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net/plants/Iris/iberica |publisher=alpinegardensociety.net |access-date=12 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=pacific>{{cite web |title=Iris summary |date=14 April 2014 |url=http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Iris/Iris_Summary.pdf |publisher=pacificbulbsociety.org |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> <!--also maximum height of 30cm<ref name=irisbotanique/>10–35 cm. <ref name=redbook/>20cm<ref name=plantsmen/> 20–30 cm<ref name=European/> 20–30 cm<ref name=amaryllis/>-->

The stem holds a terminal (top of stem) flower,<ref name=irisbotanique/> the plant normally has 2–3 stems,<ref name=amaryllis/> each with flower buds,<ref name=robyn>{{cite web |first=Robyn |last=Drinkwater |date=8 May 2009 |title=Iris's handkerchief |url=http://stories.rbge.org.uk/archives/8914 |publisher=stories.rbge.org.uk (Edinburgh Botanics) |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> blooming in Spring,<ref name=European>James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) {{Google books|CkxWrDqtWLQC|The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification (2011) |page=249}}</ref> between late March,<ref name=irisbotanique/> or April and May,<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=stamps>{{cite web |title=Flora |url=http://www.iatp.am/stamps/flora.htm |publisher=iatp.am |access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref>
or June.<ref name=redbook/>

The large flowers, are {{convert|10|-|14|cm|0|abbr=on}} in diameter,<ref name=plantsmen/><ref name=alpine/> they have a white,<ref name=redbook/><ref name=plantsmen/><ref name=Wilson>{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Carol Anne |last2=Padiernos |first2=Justin |last3=Sapir |first3=Yuval |date=February 2016 |title=the royal irises (Iris subg. Iris sect. Oncocyclus): Plastid and low-copy nuclear data contribute to an understanding of their phylogenetic relationships |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296668248  |journal=Taxon |volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=35 |doi=10.12705/651.3 |access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref> cream,<ref name=irisbotanique/> or pale yellow ground,<ref name=alpine/><ref name=European/><ref name=signa>{{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |title= Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima |date=21 September 2004 |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-elegantissima |publisher=signa.org (Species Iris Group of North America) |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> has dark,<ref name=pacific/> veining or speckling in violet,<ref name=redbook/> mauve,<ref name=robyn/> purple or brown shades.<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=European/> Compared to ''Iris iberica'' which can have blue veining and marking.<ref name=Wilson/>

Like other irises, it has 2 pairs of petals, 3 [[Biology:Sepal|sepal]]s (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner petals (or [[Biology:Tepal|tepal]]s), known as the 'standards'.<ref name=kew>{{cite web |first=Kit |last=Strange |date=13 June 2011 |title=Alpine travels in Armenia (part one) |url=http://www.kew.org/discover/blogs/gardens/alpine-travels-armenia-part-one |publisher=kew.org |access-date=14 March 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=ClaireAustin>{{cite book |first=Claire |last=Austin |title=Irises; A Garden Encyclopedia |year=2005 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0881927306 }}</ref>{{rp|17}} The darker veined,<ref name=plantsmen/><ref name=zahradaweb/> scallop shell shaped,<ref name=robyn/> falls are deflexed (bending over to an almost flat position),<ref name=robyn/><ref name=European/> and up to {{convert|6|-|8|cm|0|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=redbook/> in the center of the falls, is a velvet-like,<ref name=redbook/> dark,<ref name=signa/> brown to purple,<ref name=irisbotanique/> or black signal patch.<ref name=redbook/> Also, in the middle of the falls, is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which are brown to purple.<ref name=irisbotanique/>
Also over the falls, the iris has a deflexed [[Biology:Stigma (botany)#Style|style branches]] that almost covers the signal spot.<ref name=Wilson/> The almost vertical,<ref name=European/> and larger standards,<ref name=stebbings>{{cite book |last=Stebbings |first=Geoff |year=1997|title=The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises |url=https://archive.org/details/gardenersguideto00steb|url-access=registration |location=Newton Abbot |publisher=David and Charles |page=[https://archive.org/details/gardenersguideto00steb/page/69 69] |isbn=978-0715305393 }}</ref> are creamy,<ref name=redbook/> or white,<ref name=plantsmen/> with pale,<ref name=irisbotanique/> or thin violet veins.<ref name=redbook/> They are up to {{convert|6|-|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} long,<ref name=redbook/><ref name=robyn/> and can be described as white cotton handkerchiefs.<ref name=robyn/>

The flowers produce [[Biology:Pollen|pollen]], which has been precisely measured, the long axis is {{convert|114|micron}} long and the short axis is 111 microns long.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dönmez |first1=Emel Oybak |last2=Işik |first2=Serap |date=2008 |title=Pollen morphology of Turkish Amaryllidaceae, Ixioliriaceae and Iridaceae |journal=Grana |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=15–38 |doi= 10.1080/00173130701860104|s2cid=85120306 }}</ref>

After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule between June and July.<ref name=redbook/><ref name=Tamar/> Then the plant dies back, losing the leaves and stems, to rest underground during the winter.<ref name=Tamar/>

===Biochemistry===
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of [[Biology:Chromosome|chromosome]]s, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.<ref name=ClaireAustin/>{{rp|18}}
It has a chromosome count: 2n=20,<ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=signa/><ref name=Zohary>{{cite journal |last1=Avishai |first1=Michael |last2=Zohary |first2=Daniel |date=1977 |title=Chromosomes in the Oncocyclus Irises |jstor=2473887|journal=Botanical Gazette |volume=138 |issue=4 |pages= 502–511 |doi= 10.1086/336956|s2cid=84941000 }}</ref> and has an unnamed [[Chemistry:Alkaloid|alkaloid]] (as of 1961), contained within its rhizome.<ref name=Alkaloid>John James Willaman and Bernice Schubert {{Google books|GrsXAAAAYAAJ|Alkaloid-bearing Plants and Their Contained Alkaloids (August 1961)|page=94}}</ref>

A study in 2014, was carried out on various species of iris [[Biology:DNA|DNA]], it found that ''I. iberica'' ssp. ''elegantissima'' had a purity value of 2.80, compared to 1.26 of ''[[Biology:Iris aucheri|Iris aucheri]]''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019|reason=removed citation to predatory publisher content}}

==Taxonomy==
The Latin [[Biology:Botanical name#Binary name|specific epithet]] ''elegantissima'' refers to 'elegantissimus' meaning very elegant,<ref>William Stern {{Google books|6PBHQd-lPWYC|Horticulture – Plant Names Explained: Botanical Terms and Their Meaning|page=84}}</ref> it is a superlative of 'elegans'.<ref>David Gledhill {{Google books|NJ6PyhVuecwC|The Names of Plants|page=151}}</ref>

It was first discovered in Transcaucasus,<ref name=ipni>{{cite web |title=Iridaceae Iris elegantissima Sosn. |url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=438567-1 |publisher=ipni.org ([[Biology:International Plant Names Index|International Plant Names Index]]) |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> and then first published and described by Dmitrii Ivanovich Sosnowsky in Vestn. Tiflissk. Bot. Sada Vol.11 on page 2 in 1915.<ref name=plantlist/><ref name=ipni/> In 1972, it was then re-classified as a subspecies of ''Iris iberica'' by [[Biography:Armen Takhtajan|A. L. Takhtadzhyan]] and A. A. Fedorov, and published as ''Iris iberica'' subsp. ''elegantissima'' (Sosn.) Fed. & Takht. in Fl. Erevana Vol.331 in 1972.<ref name=plantlist/><ref name=grin>{{cite web |title=Taxon: Iris iberica Hoffm. subsp. elegantissima (Sosn.) Fed. & Takht. |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=449664 |publisher=ars-grin.gov ([[Biology:Germplasm Resources Information Network|Germplasm Resources Information Network]]) |access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iris elegantissima Sosn. is a synonym of Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima (Sosn.) Fed. & Takht. |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-321793 |publisher=plantlist.org |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>

Although it is often referred to as ''Iris elegantissima'' Sosn. in Russia and Armenia.<ref name=Yerevan/><ref name=Karyotypes/><ref>Sergeĭ Kirillovich Cherepanov (1981) {{Google books|52fdbx9XgC4C|Vascular Plants of Russia and Adjacent States (the Former USSR) |page=28}}</ref> but elsewhere it is referred to as a subspecies.<ref name=Van>{{cite web |title=The showy natural plants of Lake Van Basin |url=http://www.vanherbaryum.yyu.edu.tr/sus/index.htm |publisher=vanherbaryum.yyu.edu.tr |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=Stoker>{{cite web |first=Mary |last=Stokerbig |title=October |date=1 October 2012 |url=https://paridevita.com/2012/10/01/october/ |publisher=paridevita.com |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Species Iris (Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima) in the Irises Database |url=http://garden.org/plants/view/417646/Species-Iris-Iris-iberica-subsp-elegantissima/ |publisher=garden.org |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

It was verified as ''Iris iberica'' subsp. ''elegantissima'' by United States Department of Agriculture and the [[Organization:Agricultural Research Service|Agricultural Research Service]] on 22 February 2006, then altered on 11 December 2007.<ref name=grin/> It is listed in the [[Biology:Encyclopedia of Life|Encyclopedia of Life]],<ref name=eol>{{cite web |title=Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima |url=http://eol.org/pages/5866577/overview |publisher=eol.org |access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref> and is an accepted name by the RHS.<ref name=rhs>{{cite web|title=Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/80265/Iris-iberica-subsp-elegantissima/Details |publisher=www.rhs.org.uk| access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
It is [[Earth:Native plant|native]] to temperate Asia.<ref name=grin/>

===Range===
It is found in Armenia,<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=zahradaweb/><ref name=grin/> <!--also <ref name=European/><ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=signa/>-->  (including  Shirak,<ref name=stamps/> [[Place:Yerevan|Yerevan]],<ref name=stamps/><ref name=kew/><ref name=Karyotypes/> Aparan, [[Earth:Mount Aragats|Mount Aragats]] and Sevan.<ref name=redbook/>) in north western Iran,<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=robyn/><ref name=grin/> <!--also <ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=rhs/><ref name=European/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=signa/><ref name=zahradaweb/>--> (including Maku,<ref name=redbook/>) and in north eastern Turkey,<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=plantsmen/><ref name=robyn/> <!--also <ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=rhs/><ref name=European/><ref name=irisbotanique/><ref name=signa/><ref name=zahradaweb/><ref name=grin/>--> (or East Anatolia,<ref name=redbook/>) including near Lake Van Basin,<ref name=Van/> Erzurum,<ref name=robyn/>  and Ararat.<ref name=Arrat>{{cite web |title=Ararat; Azerbaijan And Turkey, A Tour For The Alpine Garden Society |url=http://www.greentours.co.uk/Asia/Ararat-Azerbaijan-and-Eastern-Turkey/ |publisher=greentours.co.uk |access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref>

It was listed as found in [[Place:Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]], in 2004,<ref>{{cite web |title= Chapter 6, Existing Measures and Programmes for Biodiversity Conservation Country Study on Biodiversity and First National Report, The Republic of Azerbaijan |date=April 2004 |url=https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/az/az-nr-01-p2-en.pdf |publisher=cbd.int |access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> but this either a cultivated form or mistaken form of ''Iris iberica'', which is naturally found there.<ref name=agbina>{{cite web |title=Georgian Iris |url=http://www.agbina.com/site.xp/052056055124052052055.html |publisher=agbina.com |language=ru |access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref>

===Habitat===
It grows on the lower and middle mountain belts,<ref name=redbook/> on semi-desert slopes,<ref name=redbook/><ref name=zahradaweb/><ref name=Karyotypes>{{cite journal |last1=Randolph |first1=Lowell Fritz  |last2=Mitra |first2=Jyotirmay |date=November 1961 |title=Karyotypes of Iris Species Indigenous to the USSR |jstor=2439526|journal=American Journal of Botany |volume=48 |issue=10 |pages=862–870 |doi= 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1961.tb11723.x}}</ref> <!--also<ref name=amaryllis/>--> or dry rocky, ([[Earth:Marl|marl]]) slopes,<ref name=redbook/><ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=robyn/> and [[Earth:Steppe|steppe]]s,<ref name=redbook/><ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=zahradaweb/>--> (with many [[Biology:Annual plant|annuals]] and long grasses.<ref name=kew/>) and in coniferous forests.<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=kew/>

They can be found at an altitude of {{convert|750|-|2250|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name=redbook/><ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=robyn/> <!-- also<ref name=zahradaweb/>3,000 ft<ref name=Karyotypes>-->

==Conservation==
It is a rare species,<ref name=amaryllis/> and was included in the Red Data Book of Armenia,<ref name=redbook/><ref name=stamps/><ref name=Yerevan>{{cite web |title=Country report on the state of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture |year=2008 |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1500e/Armenia.pdf |publisher=fao.org (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> but not included in the [[Biology:CITES|Annexes of CITES]] and that of the Bern Convention.<ref name=redbook/>
It is at risk due to various factors, including [[Earth:Urbanization|urbanization]], land development for arable purposes (framing) and the intensive collection (of the flowers) for selling.<ref name=redbook/>

The species grows and is monitored within Sevan National Park, Khosrov State Reserve and Erebuni State Reserve in Armenia.<ref name=redbook/><ref name=Yerevan/> Erebuni  was formed in 1981, with the purpose of protecting 100 varieties of wild [[Biology:Wheat|wheat]] and their habitat. Various rare or endangered species of plant can be found within the reserve, including ''Actinolema macrolema'', ''[[Biology:Aegilops crassa|Aegilops crassa]]'', ''Gladiolus atroviolaceus'', ''[[Biology:Hordeum spontaneum|Hordeum spontaneum]]'', ''Iris elegantissima'' (''I. iberica'' subsp. ''elegantissima''), ''Merendera trigyna'', ''Stipa vavilovii'', ''[[Biology:Triticum araraticum|Triticum araraticum]]'', ''[[Biology:Triticum boeoticum|Triticum boeoticum]]'' and ''[[Biology:Triticum urartu|Triticum urartu]]''.<ref name=Yerevan/>

It is also grown in Yerevan Botanic Garden in Armenia.<ref name=Akopian>{{cite journal |last=Akopian |first=J. A. |date=December 2010 |title=Conservation of native plant diversity at the Yerevan Botanic Garden, Armenia |journal=Kew Bulletin |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=663–669 |doi= 10.1007/s12225-011-9248-1|s2cid=22284768 }}</ref>

==Cultivation==
'Oncocyclus Section' Irises are in general easier to grow than 'Regalia Section' irises.<ref name=plantsmen/> ''I. iberica'' subsp ''elegantissima'' is [[Earth:Hardiness (plants)|hardy]] to European Zone 4,<ref name=European/> (meaning hardy to −5 to −10oC (23 to 14oF).<ref>{{cite web |title=Plant Hardiness |url=http://theseedsite.co.uk/hardiness.html |publisher=theseedsite.co.uk |access-date=3 August 2015}}</ref>
In the UK, it needs to be covered through the winter,<ref name=zahradaweb/> within an alpine house.<ref name=robyn/><ref name=Rareplants>{{cite web |title=Iris elegantissima Tortum |url=https://www.rareplants.co.uk/product/iris-elegantissima-tortum/ |publisher=Rareplants, Ltd. |access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref>

The irises grow within fertile,<ref name=Rareplants/> highly drained soil,<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=Rareplants/> in full sun,<ref name=zahradaweb/> but needs protection from rain in the late summer and winter.<ref name=amaryllis/><ref name=Stoker/><ref name=Rareplants/> In the US, the rhizomes are susceptible to being dug up by squirrels.<ref name=Stoker/>

===Propagation===
Irises can generally be propagated by division,<ref>{{cite web |title=How to divide iris rhizomes |url=http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/propagating/how-to-divide-iris-rhizomes/169.html |publisher=gardenersworld.com |access-date=12 October 2015}}</ref> or by seed growing. Irises generally require a period of cold, then a period of warmth and heat, also they need some moisture. Some seeds need stratification, (the cold treatment), which can be carried out indoors or outdoors. Seedlings are generally potted on (or transplanted) when they have 3 leaves.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Waters |title=Growing Irises from Seed |date=December 2010 |url=http://www.telp.com/irises/seed.htm |publisher=telp.com |access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref>
Oncoyclus irises dislike division, but it should only be carried out when the plant is overcrowded. Although hand pollination and germinating seedlings gives better results.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Jim |last=Archibald |title=Silken Sad Uncertain Queens |url=http://files.srgc.net/archibald/writings/JCA_SilkenSadUncertainQueens.pdf |volume=67 |date=September 1999 |access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref>

==Toxicity==
[[File:ArmenianStamps-127-128.jpg|thumb|Armenia produced stamps for ''Iris elegantissima'' and ''Iris lycotis'' (subspecies of ''Iris iberica'')]]
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.<ref>David G Spoerke and Susan C. Smolinske{{Google books|a7-f66fRfzQC|Toxicity of Houseplants|page=236}}</ref>

==Culture==
On 19 December 1997, as part of ''Flora and Fauna of Armenia'' (III issue) in the 'Irises' series, 2 stamps had images of the irises,<ref name=stamps/> (See images on the right), also on 12 August 1993, a commemorative stamp was issued in Azerbaijan, from the Flowers series, ''Iris elegantissima''.<ref name=stamp>{{cite web |title=Stamp catalog : Stamp ' Iris elegantissima |url=http://colnect.com/en/stamps/stamp/287781-Iris_elegantissima-Flowers-Azerbaijan |publisher=colnect.com |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society Vol.35 page 362, 1967
* Huxley, A., ed. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. 1992 (Dict. Gard.)
* Rechinger, K. H., ed. Flora Iranica. 1963– (F Iran)

==External links==


{{Taxonbar|from=Q21383659}}

[[Category:Iris (plant)|iberica elegantissima]]
[[Category:Plant subspecies]]

{{Sourceattribution|Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima}}