Iris assadiana is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the deserts of Syria. It has small rhizomes, grey-green strongly curved leaves, slender stems, scented flowers in April, in shades of maroon, purple, deep purple or black. They have dark veining and it also has yellow/white beard tipped with purple. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. Description It has a small rhizome, and several stolons, which are long. It can form small clumps of plants. It has 6–8, grey-green, strongly falcate (sickle shaped), or strongly curved, and reflexed leaves, which can grow up to between long and about 1 cm wide. It has a slender stem or peduncle, that can grow up to tall. The stems hold scented flowers in April, which are in diameter, and come in shades of maroon, dark plum, purple, deep purple, or black. Near Qarytein, white, yellow and pale forms have been found. Like other irises, it has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals (or tepals), known as the 'standards'. The recurved falls, are long and 2.5–3.5 cm wide, with dark veining, and a black velvet-like signal patch. In the middle of the falls, also is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is made up of long bright yellow, or white hairs, with lateral short purple hairs. The obovate standards, are long and 4–5 cm wide, and a similar colour to the falls. It has style branch that is arched, and pale orange, streaked with purple, or red, according to Brian Mathew. After the iris has flowered, it produces a seed capsule that is about 4 cm long. Genetics As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has had its chromosome counted. Taxonomy It is sometimes known as 'Iris Asadi' and written as لسوسن الأسدي (باللاتينية (in Arabic script). The Latin specific epithet assadiana possibly refers to the former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. It was first published and described by Shaukat A. Chaudhary, Grace Kirkwood & Carolyne Weymouth in 'Bot. Not.' (Botaniska Notiser) Vol.128 (Issue 4) on page401 in 1976 (1975 publ.). It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April