About Iris kolpakowskiana Regel
Iris kolpakowskiana Regel has a bulb covered by densely reticulate fibrous tunics. It produces 3 to 4 leaves, which resemble the leaves of many irises in the genus Scorpiris. Only a small number of leaves are present when the plant flowers. The leaves measure 3.5–11 cm (1.4–4.3 in) long at flowering, and can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) long after flowering finishes. They are 0.2 cm wide and ribbed on their underside. It has a very short stem, green bud leaves called spathes, and a 5–9 cm (2.0–3.5 in) long perianth tube. It blooms in late winter, between March and April. Its flowers are two-toned, and come in a range of purple shades including reddish-violet, lilac-violet, pale lilac and pale purple. Like other irises, it has two pairs of petals: three large outer sepals called 'falls', and three smaller inner petals or tepals called 'standards'. The lanceolate-shaped falls are 3.5–4 cm (1.4–1.6 in) long, and are dark violet, purple, or dark reddish purple with a yellow or yellow-orange ridge. The obovate or oblanceolate-shaped standards are 3.5–5 cm (1.4–2.0 in) long. It has stamens with filaments that are 0.5–0.9 cm long. After flowering, it produces a cylindrical seed capsule with a short beak. This iris is native to temperate Asia. It is found in the Tien Shan Mountains, Turkestan, and also occurs in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It grows on hillsides and open grassy slopes, in wet sticky clay that dries out during the summer. It is typically found at elevations of 800–3,000 m (2,600–9,800 ft) above sea level, near the melting snowline.
