Iris barnumiae subsp. demawendica

Iris barnumiae subsp. demawendica (also spelled as demavendica) is a subspecies of Iris barnumiae. It is a rhizomatous perennial native to the Elburz Mountains in Iran. It was originally thought to be a separate species before going through various changes and being classed as a subspecies. It has erect, grey-green (grass-like) leaves and two large flowers, which come in shades from claret-red, burgundy, violet-blue, to dark purple, with a white or cream beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to the environmental conditions it prefers.