Iris glaucescens Bunge (Iridaceae), the rare flag of the Siberian plant kingdom

The article provides ID quote, type category, protologue quote, detailed description and biological characteristics of the plant, as well as basics of its cultivation. In Russia, the species is represented by small populations on the borders of the natural habitat in the south regions of the Western Siberia. Outside of Russia, the plant grows in the Middle Asia (Kazakhstan) and in the north-west of Mongolia and China. In the wild, flag prefers sage and bunchgrass steppes, sodic sands, dry stone and crashed stone slopes. It can be cultivated in the rock gardens, as well as for perennial borders as an early spring plant. The plant may attract plant breeders for crossbreeding with other types of dwarf flags due to its draught and salt resistance. The work was performed in the framework of an institutional research project of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, topic 52.5. Collection of live plants of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (history, present condition, development and use prospects).