Leaves 4-6 mm wide, emerging after flowers. Perianth pale lilac to deep mauve, purple-veined inside; segments orange to white at base, 3-4.5 cm long, oblong, obtuse; tube white; autumn. Anthers white. Style branches 3, yellow, fringed at tip. Syn. C. zonatus Gay.

C Turkey to Lebanon.

var. kotschyanus Perianth segments pale lilac-blue, yellow-orange at base.

var. leucopharynx B.L. Burtt Perianth segments deep mauve, white at base. It is unknown in the wild. [C. karduchorum of gardens]

C. medius Balbis from SE France and NW Italy has leaves 2.5-4 mm wide, emerging after flowers. Perianth lilac to purple; segments 3-5 cm long, oblanceolate, finely purple-veined; tube 4-20 cm long, white, often shaded purple; autumn. Anthers yellow. Style branches numerous, red-orange.

C. nudiflorus Sm. from SW France, Spain has leaves 2-4 mm wide, emerging after flowers. Perianth narrowly goblet-shaped, purple with lilac throat; segments 3-6 cm long, narrow-oblanceolate, obtuse; tube 10-22 cm long, white; autumn. Anthers yellow. Style branches numerous, orange. Often stoloniferous.

Source: Cooke, D. (2005). Iridaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.