(Jean Baptiste Lamarck, 1789, S. E. Europe); Section Iris. TB; 12-72" (30-200 cm). Midseason bloom; Color Code-B1M; medium blue self. Distinguished from other bearded irises by the bracts protecting the flower buds being wholly dry, silvery or brown, and papery at time of flowering. The subspecies pallida has silvery bracts and the subspecies cengialtii, a dwarfer plant, has brown bracts. Standards and falls usually the same color, varying in shade from dark blue-purples to light lavender blues. This species included some forms of the first "pink" tall bearded iris. Beard white with yellow tipped to yellow, and sometimes orange into the throat.