Astrakhan iris

Family Cruciferae. Found on the slopes of ravines, on dry plateaus among desert-steppe herbaceous vegetation in the eastern parts of Stavropol, Kalmykia, and in the interfluve regions of the Volga and Ural adjacent to the Caspian Sea.

Astrakhan iris is close to I. pumila. It is distinguished by a well-developed arrow-shaped scape 10-12 (20) cm high, bearing 2 flowers at the apex; larger annual segments of the rhizome 15-17 mm in diameter; larger basal leaves—15-17 (20) cm high, 10-15 (20) mm wide; broad, 15-17 (20) mm, variably shaped bracts; a somewhat shorter perianth tube 35-45 (50) mm long; thick-walled capsules 45-50 (60) mm long; seeds exceeding in weight and size (weight of 1000 seeds 42-43 g, in 1 g 22-23 seeds; in I. pumila weight of 1000 seeds 30-31 g, in 1 g — 31-32 seeds). 2n=38.

The species is evolutionarily young, probably of hybrid origin (I. pumilaxl. scariosaxl. timofejewii). It differs from I. scariosa in the structure of the exine of the pollen grain (the latter in I. scariosa is reticulate, in I. astrachanica — verrucate) and in the chromosome number in the cells. Flowers in early spring; fruits in early summer. Distinguished by increased vigor and polychromy, or multicolored flowers, it is of interest as a dwarf border iris and as material for breeding.