Iris camillae

It has narrow, falcate (sickle-shaped) leaves, medium-sized stem and large flowers, where the flower colour is very variable (especially in the wild), ranging from violet, purple, pale blue, and also yellow, and occasionally bi-colour forms are found.

It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to its environmental conditions of its natural habitat.

[7][9][10] The stem has 3 acute, carinate (ridged or keeled), lanceolate, (scarious) membranous, spathes (leaves of the flower bud).

[5] The flowers are 6–9 cm (2–4 in) in diameter,[6][7][11] come in various colours,[12][13][14] from violet,[3] purple to pale blue, and also yellow,[3][4] and occasionally bi-colour forms are found.

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.

[16] It has not been recorded what the Latin specific epithet camillae actually refers to/ It was first collected on 29 April 1928, by A. Kolakovsky in Transcaucasia, Azerbajdzhan.

[18] It was then first published and described by Alexander Alfonsovich Grossheim in Schedae ad Plantae orientales exsiccatae (Sched.

[21] It is endemic,[1][4] to the Transcaucasian region,[6][10][11] within the country of Azerbaijan,[5][13][14][21] in the districts of Kazakh, Tauz and Khokali.

[1] Iris camillae is a threatened wild plant,[5] and was in 1989 listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan,[1][6] which helps with its protection.

[5] It was re-assessed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) on 11 October 2006, as vulnerable,[17] as it is only known 4 sites, with a limited population range of about 50 km2.

It is recommended to be planted late in Autumn, with dolomite and limestone chippings within the soil mix.

[27] Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting.