Juno austrotschatkalica (Tojibaev, F. Karimov & Turgunov) M.B.Crespo, Mart.

Crespo, Manuel B., Martínez-Azorín, Mario & Mavrodiev, Evgeny V., 2018, Notes on taxonomy and nomenclature of juno irises (Juno, Iridaceae), Phytotaxa 376 (5), pp. 185-200 : 187

Juno austrotschatkalica (Tojibaev, F. Karimov & Turgunov) M.B.Crespo, Mart. -Azorín & Mavrodiev comb. nov.

≡ Iris austrotschatkalica Tojibaev et al. (2014: 12) , basionym. Holotype:— UZBEKISTAN. West Tian Shan, Southern Chatkal: Ungor- Tepa mountains, 3 km north of the Paramon village, stony slopes, 41º25’18.69” N, 71º43’44.39” E, 1200 m elevation, 24 April 2010, F.I. Karimov & M.D. Turgunov s.n. (TASH). Isotype: ALTB.

Observations:—This outstanding species is only known from the type locality in Western Uzbekistan, close to the border with Kyrgyzstan. It is morphologically close to both Juno orchioides ( Carrière 1880: 337) Vvedensky (1941: 519) and J. capnoides Vvedensky (1971: 321) (T. Hall pers. comm.), with some superficial resemblance to J. maracandica Vvedensky (1963: 393) , three species occurring eastwards in Uzbekistan and the surrounding areas (cfr. Tojibaev et al. 2014). However, several important differences allow easy distinction and support specific status. Iris austrotschatkalica produces whitish flowers (turning yellowish after desiccation); falls lack any broad yellow blotch on the blade and the crest is comparatively lower, irregularly toothed, with some minute dark markings on margins, and it is provided with some greenish lines or bands on each side; and the standards are medium-sized (like in most of the typical juno irises), acute, with a pair of broad lobes on each side. Therefore, the necessary combination is effected here to transfer it to Juno .