The beautiful dwarf bulbous iris, which is the subject of our plate, was considered to be a variety of I. reticulata for some time after its introduction into cultivation. Dykes (1.c. 1913, 1914) has given valid reasons for retaining it as a distinct species. The early appearance of the flowers relative to the leaves and the erect standards are particularly important characters. The type was sent to Sir Michael Foster by Miss Wright of the American Mission, from the neighbourhood of Amasia. A specimen in the Kew Herbarium collected by Bornm?ller (Pl. exs. Anatoliae orientalis), "Amasia: in regionibus alpinis et subalpinis, 16.3.1889," is the only wild material of the species available. It appears without doubt to represent the plant figured here. I. histrioides var. sophensis (Foster) Dykes was distinguished by its narrow perianth segments and stigmata and by the flower colour with a peculiar metallic sheen" varying "from a dark red-purple to a blue- purple, or to a lilac or lavender." It came from near Kharput, which is in the district whose ancient name was Sophene.

Syn. Iris reticulata var. sophensis Foster in Gard. Chron. N. Ser. XXIII. 470, 568, 726 (1885), XXV. 116 (1886) et Bulbous Irises, 7, 9, 54, 58, fig. 35 (1892); Lynch in Gard. Chron. N. Ser. XXV. 150 (1886) et The Book of the Iris, 168 (1904); Baker, Handb. Irideae, 42 (1892); Mallett in Gard. Chron. Ser. 3, XXVII. 212 (1900). I. reticulata var. histrioides G. F. Wilson in Gard. Chron. Ser. 3. IX. 117 (1891); Foster, Bulbous Irises, 9, 54, 59, fig. 7, 37 (1892); Baker, Handb. Irideae, 42 (1892); Mallett in Gard. Chron. Ser. 3, XXVII. 212 (1900); Lynch, The Book of the Iris, 168 (1904); Hasselbring in Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort. III. 1681 (1915).