34 
The Apogon Section 
I. Bunge i 
Maximowicz in Bull. Acad. P£t. XXVI. p. 509 (1880). 
M«M. Biol. X. p. 695 (1880). 
Franchet, PI. David. I. p. 296 (1884). 
Baker, Hdk. Irid. p. 5 (1892). 
Synonym. 
/. v entricosa, Maxim. Ind. Mongol, p. 485 in Prim. FI. Amur. Suppl. (1859) nec Pallas. 
Distribution. Mongolia (Zakildak Schabartu). 
Between the ridges of Sutnahada and Muni-ula, 1871, Przewalski (K). 
Near river Hoang-ho, 1872, Przewalski (B). 
[N.B. Both these specimens are quoted by Maxim, in his original description.] 
Ourato, 18 66, David (P) (B). 
Thianschan, 1877, Przewalski (B). 
Diagnosis. 
/. Bungci Apogon ; inter I. vcntricosam et I. tenuifo/iam ; ab ilia spatha striis tenuibus parallelis 
dense notata nec reticulata, ab hac spatha ventricosa nec anguste acuminata membranacea differt. 
Description , taken chiefly from the Przewalski specimen at Kevv, quoted by Maxim. 
Rootstock, a slender rhizome growing in very crowded tufts. 
Leaves, narrow, linear, about a foot long, flushed with purple at the base. 
Stem, 3 — 6 in. long, clothed in one or two narrow leaves, the uppermost rising to the top of the 
spathes. 
Spathes, 3 — 4 in. long by f in. wide at the centre, ventricose, with parallel fibres, without the 
network of cross fibres found in /. ventricosa, 2-flowered. 
Pedicel, very short. 
Ovary, 6-ribbed. 
Tube , i£ — 2^ in. 
Falls, panduriform, pale blue, much veined, the obovate blade being shorter than the haft. 
Standards , of a deeper shade than the falls, equal in length to them and sometimes slightly broader, 
oblong spathulate. 
Styles, narrow, only half the width of the standards. 
Crests, linear. 
Anthers, reddish. 
Capsules, 3 in. long. 
Observations. 
This Iris comes between /. tenuifolia, from which Maximowicz omitted to differentiate it, and 
/. ventricosa. From the former it is separated by the rigid ventricose spathes, which however are 
covered not with netted fibres, as are those of I. ventricosa (see Fig. 3), but with close parallel ribs. 
It has never apparently been in cultivation. 
Fig. 3. Spathes 
of /. ventricosa (re- 
duced) and enlarged 
drawing of the re- 
ticulated surface. 
/. VENTRICOSA 
(The name is derived from the inflated spathes.) 
Pallas, Reise, III. p. 712, t. B, fig. 1 (1773). 
Baker in J. L. S. XVI. p. 138 (1877). 
Hdk. Irid. p. 5 (1892). 
Maxim, in Bull. Acad. P^L XXVI. (1880), p. 509. 
DISTRIBUTION. According to Pallas it is found only near the valley of the river Argun on 
the frontier between Siberia and Manchuria, near Soktui (= ? Soktu-jew). 
Dahuria, 17 — , Pallas (BM) (LS) (V). 
R. Argun, 1831, Turczaninow (K). 
Diagnosis. 
I. ventricosa Apogon ; folia linearia ; spatharum valvae magnae inflatae reticula- 
tione distinctae ; venae densae parallelae longitudinales trabeculis crebris transversis 
conjunguntur. 
Description, taken from Pallas’ specimens. 
Rootstock, 
Leaves, linear, under £ in. broad, 12 in. long, ribbed like those of I. ensata, thick. 
Stem, about 6 in. long, bearing two reduced leaves, which closely clasp the stem. 
Spathes, shorter and broader than in most specimens of I. Bungei, the valves 
covered with a network of fine transverse fibres between the longitudinal ribs (see 
Fig- 3 )- 
Pedicel, short. 
Ovary, 
