1968. SIGNA #1

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A Welcome to the Species Iris Study Group of the American Iris Society:

by Bruce Richardson

The above is a very long name for a very small group of dedicated irisarians interested in the iris species and near species hybrids. The Group. is organized under the constitution and by-laws of the American Iris Society and is in particular, intimately connected with the A.I.S. Scientific Committee, being under their direct jurisdiction,and responsible to them for its activities. The need for this group's formation grew directly from the Species Robins circulating among the A. I. S. members, and the desire to make the information in these Robins and comments of the members, more widely available to others interested in our wild species, and to preserve them in a readily available form.

The process of organizing has been underway for nearly two years now, the first positive step to organizing having been taken at the Newark Convention Meeting in May of 1966. The British Iris Society Species Group had organized about six months previously and the Board of Counselors meeting with the Board of Directors of the A.I.S., thought there might be merit in having a similar group here in North America. Nrs. Betty Bowe, R.V. P . of Region 3 at the time, undertook to act as Secretary pro tem and circulate the Species Robin Members for suggestions, ideas - and volunteers to fill the Executive positions. After a number of letters had passed back and forth, the final result was that LeRoy Davidson took the Chariman°s job , Betty continued on as Secretary, Tom Buckley as Librarian and myself as Editor. A little later Ruth Hardy came in as Seed Exchange Director. Roy presented the proposed Group's program (after numerous more letters) to the Board of Directors of the A.I.S . , who approved its aims and named the previously mentioned people as the permanent Executive for the Group. Since we have no formal constitution, with provision for open election of Office, the Executive will continue for the time being under the authority of the Board of Directors of the A.I.S. as a sub-committee of the Scientific Committee of the A~I.S. ·

Because everything has been done by mail? with no opportunity to meet in person, and because your Executive desired to proceed cautiously with everything founded on a firm basis, this first publication of SIGNA has been delayed a bit longer than a t first anticipated. Similarly with the Library material, which in addition has been further delayed by the continuing illness of Tom Buckley. ·

To completely cover the aims of the Group, it has been considered advisable to have two forms of publication. First, this Bulletin, on an eventual quarterly basis, is intended to distribute current news about species and near species hybrids, including such things as the activities of the Group covering seed exchange, sources of species, lists of Library material currently available and special projects as they develop. Articles of interest to species enthusiasts will be regularly published and will cover such areas as descriptions of the species how to grow them, their limitations, horticultural or garden uses, varieties among the species, seed germination, explanation of botanical terms and many similar items all relating to iris species and hopefully adding to our knowledge of them. A continuing feature will be: the reprinting of species articles from the Bu1letin, or our sister organization, The British Iris Society Species Group. One on Evansias is to be found in this issue. A Question Box and Trader's Corner will be run if there is sufficient interest. Your Editor would especially like to hear from the Members as to how the species grow for them, their weather conditions and soil, and the blooming dates. Some charts could likely be developed from this sort of information and distributed by the Bulletin or through the Library function. The Bulletin which you are receiving is called "SIGNA" from the Latin for signal and it 1s sincerely hoped its "signals" will be seen and read across the land. It will continue to come to you in its present form, ready for binding into a permanent file in the binder supplied with this issue.

LIBRARY

The second publication service, the Library, is planned as a research service, whereby members wili be able to obtain information on all phases of species irises as this information exists in the body of English literature on the iris. Besides directing interested members to sources still readily obtainable, it is intended that it will make available to them, at the lowest possible cost, much of the useful work of the past that is now rare, hard to obtain or generally unknown to iris growers in North America. The Library is not presently intended to be a circulating library of books, although this service may be instituted at a later date,if demand warrants it and funds permito Several collections of valuable articles on species irises will be issued on a circulating loan basis until such time as they can be duplicated to fill any demand from those who may wish to have permanent copies in a format uniform to the Bulletin, so that they may be filed in a single binder if desired The first of these is now ready.

SPECIES SEED EXCHANGE

The third principal function of the Group will be the operation of an iris·species seed exchange. This is already underway and has completed its first seed distribution in a very successful manner under the direction of Ruth Hardy. It operates by way of seed donations from sources around the world ~ and these are resold on a basis of 25¢ a packet or five for a dollar. One major distribution per year is planned, with the next corning as early in the fall of 1968 as it is possible to get the seed.

The final results from the 1967 Seed Exchange are not complete at this moment, but there were 143 seed lists mailed out and 59 orders for seed received, comprising 626 seed packets. More lists had to be printed and about 30 orde~s for seed ~emained unfilled for lack of seed. This re~arkable res~onse clearly shows that there is truly a great deal of interest in· growing the species, and also points out the ·_need for our members· to · save their species seeds and send them in t;;o Ruth Hardy. More~seed .than ~as available this year is neededo This seed --exchange is; intem~'!-ed . to ·be one of the main sources of income for the operations of the· Group, so . it therefore_.- has a dual role and your · / contributions·: of-·seeds are urgently needed. Don °t fail us - save all you can, espe·ciaJ:ly the rarer types and send then ino

SUBSCRIPTIONS

To support the Group, suscriptions are solicited from any and all interested in the iris species, but particularly from those living on the North American continent, as this is the centre for the Group. Fees have been ·set at $2.00 per year for either a single or family membership, or $5.00 for three years, and should be sent to the Secretary/ Treasurer, Nrs. Betty Rowe (address of all Officers on the inside front -cover). : This subscription fee will entitle the holder to the annual issues ·of the Bulletin (up to four each year), participation in all of the activities of the Group such as the seed exchange, meetetc and the minor publications of the Library. A separate charge will be necessary for the larger and more elaborate publications from the Library. It is sincerely hoped that as many as are genuinely interested in the iris species will join at once to give initial support when it is needed most. The larger our membership, the more we will be able to do for each and every one of us to spread the knowleclge of the iris species.

A GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC COAST IRISIS by Victor ·A. Cohen .. . With this first issue of SIGNA it is planned to <'l.istribute to all , members a gratis copy of Mr. Victor A. Cohen vs " A GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC COAST IRISEs::. However, at the time this is written there is some doubt if the booklets will arrive in time from England to go out wi.th SIGNA No. 1. If this proves to be the case, then it will be sent out separately or with SIINA No. 2. This is a booklet of 40 pages, published by the British Iris Society in 1967s and deals with all the iris species found on the Pacific Coast of the United States, and ie based on Nr. Cohen;s extensive travels there in search of these species in the years 1963 and 1965. Containing many line drawings of the species, cl. distribution map of the species, two pages each of black & white and full colour reproductions of the species in their natural growing conditions, it is a very valuable, up to date and accurate source of detailed information on these species. Although published by the B.I.S., the main driving force behind getting it into print goes to the Species Group of the B.I.S., who first had the pleasure of having Mro Cohen address them on the subject matter of the booklet on September 20th 8nd October 25th in London, and were so impressed they decided to go ahead with plans for its publication. Our thanks go out to them for a fine job well done. Additional copies are available from our Secretary or from Mrs. A. Marchant, Secretary of the B. I. S. Species Group7 for ~1. 00 i-lr~;. Marchant;s address is Stort Lodge, Hadham Road Bishop 0 s Stortford, Herts England.

What Exactly Is a Species?:

B. L-::.Hoy Duvic'l.son For ·q.ui te . some 1<ime now 9 Nan has found himself hardpressed to define l:lis ovm term 9 species, in wor<'I s that are not soon shot dovm -- or at least badly ventilated -- by hls·dissenters. The truth, and the base of the 'qifficul~y; i~ .of course that species do not exist in nature, but onl~-in the mind of man as his creation, a concept, an attempted aid in_ t~e~ystematic ciassification of living things, and a term for . communicating his ideas to his fellow man. We have long been taught tl:lat no two individuals in nature are precisely identical, though some are certainly far more ·nearly so than certain others. It is the systematic grouping of the most similar together with others of obvious ilk that eventually leads to the difficulty of where to draw the lines. It once seemed easy enough to. put the question off with the old idea that nspecies are those founa in nature". There are two obvious shortcomings to that attempt, since we now r ecognize that many hybrids also occur in nature, but more 1mportantly9 such a statement fails to define the bounas of any g i ven species and gives no hint as to how to go about a delimitation.

In the many attempts at a good definit ion, it would seem that the expression David G. Leach, writing on the Genus Rhododendron has come up with the most nearly unhindered idea of the problem, an expression 1~ concrete wording on an abstract plane •. "Nature refuses to accommodate with conveniently rigid categories. It abhors the strait jacket which would represent frozen immo bill ty • . The difficulty in classifying rhododendrons is a reflection of the continuous lifestream that nature intends. We are dealing with the plastic and dynamic, wi th the pulses of creation, which has changed and developed since time began. These hosts .of rhodoclEmdrons will continue to shift restlessly in the gigantic framework of evolution as long as .they inhabit the earth." This statement is just as apt if one subst:)..tutes the word 1>iris;1 fo'r "rhododendron11

• Leach then continues 9 "The wona er is, not that there· are so many faults in classification, qut that the botanists have done so well with the undisciplined legions of them.11 Of rhododendrons as well as iris.

This does not bring us any closer to a resolution that will answer all queries of what constitutes a given species, but does certainly shed a great light on why the problem is a complex one and why also there may never be a completely acceptable definition ; since not all plants are in the .. same de5ree of evolution, there can be no formula to fit all.

And. So Then , 1vhat is a Hybrid? • I

Technically", very technically speaking , all plants resulting· from the fertilization of ~n ovule by pollen of any except the same plant are 1:hybrid.". However, in general usage only those resulting from the mating of dissimilar' parents are so·- cal3.ed. Thus vre have various kinds , or various degreesr of hybridity, from ” infra-specific" (as betMeen two sub- species of a given species, " inter- specific" (between two species of a given genus), or 1;inter- series11 (between two species belonging to separate series within a given genus), and so forth, even to some "inter-·generic" hybrids, which must .constitute a "new" genus. Some exampl-es would include Halimiocystis (Halimium x Cistus), Solidaster (So1·1d·age x Ast·er), Gaulthettya (Gaultheria x Pernettya), and Heucherella (Heuchera x Tiarella). In each case the hybrid genus serves to validate the close relationship of the two genera involved , and we may be gr ateful that no such involvements with the genus Iris are knofm. ·In fact 7 the various portions of the genus Iris are so well-differentiated genetically that we have no proven hybrids, even within ·the genus, between such as bulbous and rhizomatous, or even between the ~wo major divisions of the bulbous kinds. David G • . Leach 11 Rhododenclrons of the World”, p .113. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961.

Unguicularis (Stylosa):

Edith s. Cleaves

In Mr. Dillingstone 0 s book, 1:DYKES ON IRISESu, Mr. D~·kes seems to have a difference of opinion about the name but I. unguicularis is used more often throughout his articles in the book. There is one article where Mr. Dykes states "Only one species. It is the iris generally knol'm as stylosa; the name given fifteen years before was I. unguicularis, but it is a sad burden for so beautiful a plant.0 This is dated 1910. Ana another article, dated April 22nd, 1911 : :iThe worst feature of thi ~ iris is its name, and it is indee0 unfortunate that Desfontaine's name I. stylosa 1s 13 years junior to Poiret 9 s uncouth appellation, and cannot, ther efore , properly be -used . Moreover, the name stylosa --1 s eminently su1.ted to the plant for it is one of the very few irises in which the style rises undivided for some distance above the top of the peri anth tvbe before branching into three. "

Ir:i today 0 s notes the name I. stylosa is still principally in use, .. · so let!s settle on that.

Over ten years ago , I ordered I . stylosa alba , also the hybrid Impe,xatrice 1!.lizabetta. Both grew well, al though the white was a trul: scrongy plant with very poor formed flowers, poor substance , poor evezything. However I put the pollen of the hybrid (which was a very da r:1' mottled purple , sort of crepe-like substance, narrow foliage~ on the white and got about five p9ds.., It was at this time that the disco~ ry of the pods was purely accidental as I weeded around the plant. Whc expected to find seed pods, opened, showin~ seeds, in a three-corne.: ed cup down in the ground at the base of the stem7 Planted most of trem end got such a variety out of thirthy seeds planted! Lots of laveiders and a few whites , but no dark purple except two.

Because the ho use was sold it was necessary to move and only took t few of the new hybrids plus the Imperatrice Elizabetta. The new 1ybrids turned out to be most interestin~. Stems of both colours were all of 12 to 16 inches tall, large flowers and good substance. Some were dusted on the under fall with 0 goldn , some were the same colour on both sides of the fall, the variations on the lavenders in the in the, veining patterns · wer e fascinating, each so different. There was ·-orie that bloomed quite a bit later which was a dark pansy- violet, very narrow··leaves and only had one bloom. After retirement, I moved to San Jose bringing this dark -one and only five of the lavenders, leaving ·the whites. -Wondering why I left the whites and decided to try and see · if the new owner would consider sharing with me 9 when, wonder of wonders, · they called me asking if I couldn ~ t use some. Remom.bering their goo<t qualities, I was so delighted because they were at ieast 10 inches tall, .. of good substance a.nd had good sized blooms. They hav~ I been growing very well; no shoqk on the transplanting and most bloomed · in December and on. Two decided types, one leaf is only¼" wide, the other, not. a~ long · but· ½" wide. The½" leafed one is 14½" tall-stem.

Surprisingly, there was one dark pansy-coloured one. Stems were no more than nine or ten in.ches but the flower itself was so different. The falls were "silvered11 underneath 8nd most of the blooms were scalloped along the edges of the fall. The standards formed a ruffled dome that stayed closed or rounded9 . I shoul.d: .. . say,_: for two days. On the third day the dome opened. -· style a:·roi"s· ro·o'; ··iiier·e the pretty pansy-colour. Foliage was ¼n wide and about .. 2411 in length. This one has not yet been registered, still watching the plant to see if this next year it will continue in this unusual style.

Give _them .. ~ su,miy .. ~pot, good drainage, just regular so.11 o Iri. i"iay, . following the bloom period, the foliage is cut back to . about 8 inches. - ~ and at the end of August this is repeated. But if you want to have a . _bfJght _fl9-we.;r~d . clump showing these lovely bi ts of gayety on a gray ·day:·, do 0ut the.' foliage back in August, leaving EJt least 6" to 811 aqove -the groundo This also helps to .find the seed mnch easiero :Also ,-. a .t . this .. . time I clean· out the dead foliage, so all is done- at one s'itting. By·,, cutting:: back-the foliage, the clump· shows a b,ig cluster of flowers and is· so· much more attractiveo Some of the_ foliage will be a ,bit· ·.1onger·/ ·: but·. will' not hide the bloom.

Hc1.ving a most temperate climat·e in this valley, blOO\Il wili istart · in October, (though at times it starts in late September) and contipue,s (through frost and rains) until mid-March at least. This is such a saitisfactory' littre plant, needing so little care - - possibly snail bait at times. There is one other pest that can be more of a nuisance and that is gopherso Last year one gopher chewed up one plant, but I dug it up and made fol!-r. p_lant~ o Three revived but the fourth is still struggling to grow.

ihss~ are hardy rhizomes· I have found outo In the first move th~ rhizomes were iri a wooden. box with the foliage still on. Put ~nde~· the weeping wiil6w tree for ·protection they stayed in the ·box through the winter and sutnmer :tor one year, occasionally watered a bit carelessly. Having so many other irises to get into their pennanent l .ocat ions, working at nights, it was a full year before these plants were to be cared for. There were just sm2ll rhizomes left, but I chanced it, planted . · them, although I thought I had lost them all. But in three years the. size of these clumps was at least 20 inches in diameter.

Apparently they survive frosts and snow from reading .. ,...; about them in ~ome of the robins. The white I. stylosa is more tender than the others o Should you ever plant seed, when they bloom,. jus.t take an interest in the patterns on the falls o Some are so pretty· ·and. unusu_al.

And what more . satisfying to look out through the window on a ·:winter day and see :·at hiast thirty or more flowers on one plan.t 9 .bringing colour to ari otherwise colourless garden, even if mine have nqt one iota of fragrance as do thosH from Algiers?

British Iris Society Species Group:

Bruce Richardson

The British Iris Society Species Group held its first meeting on Tuesday, · February 1st, 1966 in London, having been organized shorty before. At the time of the first meeting it had 37 members and was already an enthusiastic group very interested in learning as much as they could about the species iris. Being a compact group in a small country and with many members centred around London, it is possible for them to have ·frequent group meetings to discuss their favorite subject. These meetings have been reported in the form of bulletins, of which there have been· ten in the Years 1966 and 1967, and each has contained some very worthwhile species information, usually as given by a guest speaker and faithfully reported by their Secretary, Mrs. Angela Marchant, as well as the usual business affairs of the Group. Mrs. Marchant has kindly consented to allow your Editor to reprint in SIGNA any part of these Bulletins and it is your Editor's intention to select the parts and features that will be useful for the members of our Species Study Group to study and have readily available as reference material.

With this ideal in mind the following material has been extracted· from the reports of the first two meetings of B.I.S. Species Group which took place on Feb. 1st and March 22nd of 1966.

A REPORT ON THE DISCUSSION OF THE IRISES OF THE EVANSIA SECTION

Including extracts from an introductory paper by Mr. E. Luscombe.

(Formerly subgenus Evansia (Salisb.))

section Evansia (Dykes)

sub-section Evansia (Lawrence)

Now re-classified sub-genus Crossiris (Rodionenko 061)

We shall continue with the more familiar Evansia Section at present but suggest adopting the new classification as soon as possible. Species in the section: · I. japonica (Thunberg), I. confusa (Sealy), I. wattii (Baker) , I. formosana ( Ohwi), I. tectorum (Maximowicz) , I. milesii (Foster), I. cristata (Aiton-or Solander), I. iacustria (Nuttall), I. tenuis (Watson); I. gracilipes (Gray), I. pseudo-rossii (Chien), I. speculatrix (Hance).

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION: Bastern Asia, i.e. N. Burma, Assam, Manipur, parts of China, Japan, N. W. Himalayas in India. Also U.S. A., the Eastern ·states and northwards to the Great Lakes region, continuing over into Ontario Province, Canac1a, and one species in Oregon on the Pacific Coast.

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTIC:

An incised crest borne on the -medial line on each of the falls. This crest is mostly in the form or, a single, linear ridge, but ls sometimes triple , e.g. I. cristata and I. japonica.. In I. milesii the margin is finely divided and fringe-like. Apart from this prominent crest, some of the species show little resemblance to other members, and the group as a whole is not homogenous. There are groups within the section which, show close resemblance to other species in the same group.

INDIVIDUAL· SPECIES, divided for the purposes of discussion into 3 groups.

GROUP 1. ·· ( ~) I. japonica . The type plant with pale lilac flowers and greyish green leaves is not ·hardy, and rarely grown or offered in this country; the plant known ·as· Ledger's variety with pallid flowers and yellow-green leaves being in general cultivation. The petals are fringed, and the flower stem arises directly from the rhizome with a more or less regularly patterned branching unusual in iris. The inflorescence is paniculate. There are no records of seed being set in this country or of an albino form • .

(The hybrid JAP-WATT is japonica by confusa, not wattii.)

PLANTING:

Transplants best dur1ng May-June. Co1,1ld be killed by dividing in autumn. Divis1on seems desirable after two or three years as the soil becomes exhausted unless well-enriched, and the number of flowers decrease.

SOIL:

Seems indifferent to lime although by nature a woodland plant, and will thrive (or NOT) in any fairly rich medium with good drainage.

SITUATION AND ASPECT:

Best in a site sheltered from Cold winds, as the evergreen leaves are subject to damage by snow and freeze, and from early morning sun following spring frosts. The rhizomes require ripening by summer sun. The form with variegated leaves is less hardy and is probably better under glass. All forms flower better under glass. Outside a raised bed ls preferred for soil warmth and good drainage. · CONCLUSIONS: In gardens where this species thrives, it wil1 flower in an open or even north aspect but better in a South. There are some gardens where it grows but will flower -nowhere, and· another clone begged from a good friend with a flowering clump may be the only solution.

( b) I confusa .. Distinct from all other varieties, this species and I. wattii support the main leaf-fans on an elongated basal stem a foot or more high, which is produced from June onwards and over- winters. The flower stem grows from the leaf-fan at the top of the basal stem. The flowers are similar to those of I. japonica.

PLANTING;

Division in May - June.

SOIL: Any fairly rich medium. If grown in a pot under glass extra feeding is necessary in the growing season. A leafy~gritty loam is recommended, also the use of plastic pots to conserve soil moisture.

SITUATION AND ASPECT:

Although this species may be grown outside in a warm sheltered position, it may not flower, and will give certain pleasure 1n a cold greenhouse.

© I. wattii;

A tender plant with flowers similar to the above species. The elongated stem, as in I. confusa, may reach 7 or 8 feet in height if the plant 1s contented.

PLANTING:

Division in May, but one grower reports a special method of ·propagation - removing sections of the jointed basal stem to strike as cuttings.

SOIL AND ASPECT:

John Innes No. 2 potting compost is suitable and a sunny or partly shaded site is of equal merit.

ED: The following information on species comes from the March 22nd meeting, as reported in Bulletin #2 of the B.I,S. Species Group.

GROUP. 2.

(a) I. tectorum

The Japanese roof-iris. This appears to be hardier than any species in Group 1. The flower is mauve with darker mottling and veins, all six flower segments are ample and broad, the stem 12 - 18 inches tall, either simple or with only one branch. There is also an albino form, which seems as hardy as the type.

PLANTING :

Transplant in late July; every two years is sometimes recommended but in places where it thrives and increases without difficulty it will persist happily in the same site for many years. It has flowered magnificently, undisturbed, at Kew.

SOIL:

In spite of the rotting reeds on the roof-tops, this plant seems to do well where there is lime in the soil and a good handful of dolomite chalk (Magnesium Carbonate limestone) is beneficial. A good fertile soil, not too dry, supplied with organic fertilizers, Hoof and Horn meal, Bone meal or hop manure is recommended and in early summer a mulch of good potting compost helps the developing young side shoots to root well. Slow, weak rooting may be one of the chief causes of failure to establish this species initially, as this is a common problem. The rhizomes tend to climb out of the soil, and shrivel away, therefore the use of . a gritty medium to stimulate root formation is most desirable, The use of slug bait is also necessary, as these creatures love the -tender new shoots. ·

SITUATION AND ASPECT:

Although both forms appear quite hardy, the resting flower-bud may suffer. from frost-bite, and a sheltered, south-facing aspect gives best results. A pane of glass over young plants in winter may help · establishment. Artifical ripening under a cloche has been recommended. Good drainage is essential.

(b) · I. milesii

This species is isolated from the other species in the section. Natural distribution is in the Himalayan region. The flowers are mottled, pinkish-violet, smaller and more slender than I. tectorum. The margin of the c:est is finely divided and fringe-like. The 9tem is 2 - 3 feet tall with 2-4 branches.· The plant is deciduous and hardy, but may suffer damage to flower-buds in late Spring frost. Reported badly damaged but recovered, after prolonged winter temperatures of 0 to -6 F. -

PLANTING:

Seed, or division in August infrequent.

SOIL:

Prefers rich gritty loam, good drainage, seems indifferent to lime, but probably prefers it. Applications of cow manure are much appreciated, also by I. tectorum. Happy plants are voracious feeders. May set seeds plentifully in this country (a cross with a diploid tall bearded is recorded by Hr. Patton; flowers awaited with interest).

SITUATION AND ASPECT:

Open and sunny 1 but perhaps protection from early morning sun following late Spring frost so Winter protection for seedlings advisable until well established. Beware slugs! Otherwise an easy and accommodating plant.

GROUP 3. The smaller species

(a) and (b) I. cristata, I. lacustris , grouped together, sometimes lacustris considered a variety of cristata, but is quite distinct in flower and cultivation requirements . The flowers are tinier, of light violet, the standards and falls being of precisely the same wedge shaped outline. In spite of its' name, I. lacustris is not a bog plant, being found on the shores of and not in, the Great Lakes. Both species have fast-creeping rhizomes on the soil surface.

PLANTING:

Division in the active growing season, late Spring and early Summer. Simple transplanting of the plant or clump at other times of the year, keeping roots intact in a ball of earth.

SOIL :

Both species prefer moist gritty soil, neutral to acid , though lacustris will stand a slightly alkaline medium, with leaf mold and sharp drainage. Feeding does not encourge flowering . Attractive to slugs.

SITUATION AND ASPECT:

Cristata thrives best in full shade, with consistent moisture. Lacustris will tolerate more sun with ample moisture. This tiny plant flowers abundantly from May to October, climbing out onto rock from moist gritty soil, and sets seed in this position, but still dislikes strong sunshine.

CONCLUSION:

It was noted that members rarely succeeded with both species; in fact in no case reported. It might be considered that one species substitutes for another in a given locality. The Group would appreciate wider comments on this observation.

© I. gracilipes

The flowers a r e small 9 pinkish-lilac with a conspicuous white blotch on the falls and a .distinct pattern of deep violet veins and flecks. The plant has one unique feature, i.e., the spathe consists of one member instead of the normal two or more valves . There is a good white form in cultivation which seems to have more vigor than the type. A Japanese woodland plant; hardiness or the lack of it, does not seem to be the reason for its temperamental behavior.

PLANTING:

Late Spring or early Summer; best from seed.

SOIL:

Leafy acid soil with sharp drainage. On alkaline clay soils this species has succeeded with the addition of weathered coal dust and peat . An accidental mulch of dry leaves during winter helped where there was a suspicion of rotting at the collar, resting shoots. A dressing of · lime-free grit might act in the same way and help 'deter the most determined slugs.

SITUATION AND ASPECT:

Full sha6e. facing north preferred, but will tolerate a little sun, in moist positions. Like many_ woodlanders, root association may enco. 'urge flowering 9 but no ·specific companion is suggested and competition for moisture would not help.

(d) I. ten:μis

Has small pale flowers on deeply forked stems. The crest on the falls is entire, not incised as in other species in the section. When · happy, it will rebloom on and off till Autumn. Cultivation notes incomplete, but treat as for I. gracilipes. May take more sunshine and be more tolerant of lime. A dressing of pine needles might be effective.

(This species was transferred in 1959 by Dr. Lee Lenz from Series Californicae of Apogon irises to Section Evansia, and it was felt that convincing evidence was produced to show that this species had affinities with cristata and gracilipes. A native of N. Oregon - it is found in dense unclergrowth, or in great numbers on the floor of Douglas Fir forests.

THE 0DD MEN OUT I. speculatrix

Found only in Hong Kong and the adjacent mainland. Not hardy. The flower is lavender-lilac, the falls heavily marked deep violet blue for three-quarters of their length, except for a conspicuous ·orange yellow patch flanking the outer end of the single, linear yellow crest. All six. petals· appear elongated and somewhat slender, the falls tucked under. The leaves are slender dark evergreen, and· it has· a creeping rhizome not unlike I. verna. Light compost, leaf mold. and grit, and out of strong sunshine, seem to be its requirements. The plant from which Mr. Venables exhibited a flower at the ·B.I.S. Show last June (for details see Nr. Killens' Report on the Species at the Show in the 1965 Year Book), still thrives. Mr. Boussard grows it in Verdun. Dr. Marr kept this species alive for seven or eight years, and those interested might refer to the Year Book 1952, where Mrs. Anley describes her experiences with this plant.

I. formosana and I. pseudo-rossii have not been reported in cultivation (yet). But many members are anxious to obtain them, and no rhizome will be left unturned until they are found.

ED: This concludes the descriptions of the Evansia species, with· the exception of the members 01ater comments. It should be remembered that the instructions given for growing these irises are intended for the English climate, and due allowances should be made for growing them in other climatic zones. Our thanks once again to the British for the privilege of using this material, which your Editor suggests should be read in its entirety by interested members, as it contains many very useful suggestions and ideas to numerous to completely reprint here

Hybrids As Identification Tools:

B. LeRoy Davidson

Since the times of Leichtlin, Foster and Dykes the results of attempting matings ·of dissimilar Irises has played an important part in their phylogentic classification. Dykes published in 1913 (The Genus Iris) the sum total of the conclusions to be drawn at that time as to which of them formed natural groups, based not only on their gross morphology, the basic tool of taxonomy, but also on their cytology, - according to their known abilities to intercross. Although all these terms were not in use at the time, it was a distinct advance in the understanding of the genus Iris, and has proven sound in the light of recent new technology, and the basic arrangement is still in use by modern phylogenists, updated and latinized to conform to the rules of nomenclature. Within Apogons especially, this pioneer work showed great understanding of the basic problem and the way to a solution.

A good many of the resulting "natural groups" (or taxa) of Irises consist of a number of morphologically distinct species, but which among themselves are capable of gene-exchange through interbreeding, even to producing fertile hybrids in the process so that such exchange may continue for many generations; they have become morphologically recognizable from one another but not sufficiently differentiated to have. become genetically isolated. This is considered evidence .of close telationship and is particularly evident within Pogiris of subgenus. Iris, the majority of garden forms occurring here, including, within subsection Pogoniris, the series Pumilae -or dwarf, bearded, series · Elatae or tall beardled. and the new series Intermadeae, to· include those species, forms and hybrids of the horticultural groups not included in either of the two other series. Also as examples of Pogiris of gardens are subsections Oncocyclus, Hexapogon (Regelia), Pseudoregelia (not much in cultivation), and the hybrid groups, Oncogelia sometimes called Regeliocyclus) and Arilpogon, to include hybrids of Pogoniris with any of the other Pogiris, as oncocyclus, Hexapogon or their Oncogelia hybrids. A good many of the hybrids of extremely mixed ancestry· within ell these kinds of Irises are at least partially fertile.

There have been a very limited number of hybrids derived from most dissimilar parents, and their value has been chiefly in interrelating these dissimilar sorts , as for instance 'Paltec', from a Pogoniris and an Evansia, (I . pallida x I. Tectorum) indicates thElt subsection Evansia, though beardless, is more nearly allied to the bearded sorts than to any other natural group , because there are no hybrids to substantiate any other relationship. Aside from t his, 'Paltec' has proven itself of garden use for well over fifty years and is still widely grown. There are other portions of the genus Iris at least as well isolated; for instance there are no proven hybrids between the bulbous and rhizomatous sorts.

But it is within Apogon Iris particularly that curiosity still prompts attempts to mate the dissimilar ones, and with infrequent though surprising results. Though many of those reported have not been cytologically proven ~ their intermediate morphology and sterlity indicates beyond reasonable doubt their hybrid origin. · As a few examples the following are cited : 'Longsib' (I. longipetala x I. siberica), 'Longwat' (I. longipetala x I. douglasiana), 'Montwat' (I. missouriensis x I. douglasiana , 'John W1ster' ~-· I. fulva x .I. aurea) -~ 'Orientosa' (I. orientalis X I. setosa) and 'Tenosa' (I. tenax XI. setosa). Several of these have received careful cytological analysis,- substantiating their reported origins . Possibly the most famous of these inter-series crosses within Apogon was the rnat1ng which gave 'Margot Holmes', I. douglasiana x I~ ·chrysograghes, of Californicae and Sibiricae series respectively. A great many further crosses between members of the two series leads · to the. conclusion that, among the Apogons, these are clearly the most nearly related. · Dr. Lenz published an analysis of the sort of intermediate morphology to look for in this general type of cross, wherein the morphology of the Sibericae species tends to be dominent. A similar tabulation might be possible for any of the other types of cross if sufficient population could be induced to allow such a study. Beyond its novelty, 'Margot Holmes', like 'Paltec', has proven garden worthy and, is widely grown today. The sterility of these wide hybrids often gives them tremendous vigour, allowing their strength to hold und1minished through countless vegetative divisionso Some others of these are not so blessed, with both beauty and vigour; 'Longsib', though strong enough , has been described as "appearing as if frosted at the moment of emerging from the bud". Such an unlovely aspect has been paraphrased with ~"sent for, but couldn°t come" . Nevertheless, it is an example of a rather deightful; intermediate, clearly looking somewhat like both ancestors, and sterile.

Marc Simonet, working in France on cytological studies within Irises, produced 'Tenosa' and it is figured and described in the literature of the day, though the plant is not known to exist to this time. Yet by a curious circumstance it has been, "reconstructed" Miss Elvie Page, wishing to increase her planting of I. tenax, saved and planted seed from themo On their gerinination, she noticed several plants that did not look like the rest and when they came to bloom a few seasons later , they seemed much nearer in appearance to the I. setosa which had also been in the garden." A comparison with Simonet 0d figure and description leaves little room for doubt that the bees had crossed the I. tenax with l. setosa. Though the gross morphology is much more akin to that :of the latter, it shows considerable "intermediate" tendency, and is sterile.

The study of hybrids can tell us much about a species, as much perhaps as a study of the species populations, and along the way is that incentive of the "curio", and the worthwhile NEW garden plant.

Caucasian Irises:

Species of the genus Iris have been in garden culture for a long time and with all nations. Only the decorative wild iris of the Caucasus have up to now hardly obtainable in trade. Here we work with the Iris of 1the subsection Oncocyclus (Siemss, Benth), the species of which are little know with us (in Russia).

The basic features for classifying them in a group of their own are seeds. The name "oncocyclus" means in Greek:, seed with collar". And indeed, with all species and forms of this subsection the seeds are oval and show on one side a white rider. . .. According to indications in literature, this subsection comprises about 20 species. For the better part, they are found in mountain sections of the Near East and Asia Minor.

- In the following Caucasus, the following 10 species are found: I. iberica Hoffm.; I. paradoxa Stev. ; I. camillae ' Grossh.; I. lycoris Woron.; I. ·grossheimii Woron.; I. acutiloba C. A. Mey; I. lineolata (Trautv., Grossh.) . With the exception of I. elegantissima, these species are endemic in the Caucasus.

Under· natural conditions the diameter, shape and colour of the inflorescence vary considerably. That is why, in literature:, nearly 50 species are described.

Among the Caucasus Iris, I. iberica, found in the surroundings of Tiflis, is the most beautiful one. First it was described in the beginning of the last century by the botanician Hoffmann; The famous scientist N. A. Troitzkij, write in 1928 that this iris gives colour to the small mountains in the surroundings of Tiflis, and some-years earlier it covered every Spring - in April - completely the slopes of the mountains in the surroundings of Grena-gele with its flowers

Before the war, German flower firms exported the bulhs in such quantities that this iris is found but rarely nowadays, and might possibly disappear in the future altogether.

Under favorable conditions of climate, the iris exported from Grusinia of course perished. That is why, up to now 1 They are not available from flower firms. (Ed. Perhaps unfavourable conditions?)

The wild forms of I. iberica var .robudtasoBn.f.cremea Na.tv. and f.coerulea Matv. are more beautiful than all the following. From the ordinary species and forms they distinguish themselves by the colour of their flowers. The standard s (mostly erect) are diaphanous with a cream or light blue tint. 2specially beautiful are the falls. They are often curved like a spoon, light brown towards the edge, covered with a dense net of dark brown to violet veins. Between these, there are often dots and spots which get denser towards the lower part and run together. In the centre of the falls, there is a dark brown, nearly violet velvety patch which gives the flower its peculiar colour.

The exploration of the Caucasian iris is a matter to which the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Grusinia has devoted many yearso In its test garden, there is now a large collection of fundamental species and hybrids.

Pollination for obtaining crosses is simple. As a result, the fundamental species have been split up and new forms came into existenoe, so-called spontaneous hybrids. These are hybrids which arise without · man's helping hand. The large variety of species and forms of the subsection oncocycius which grow in a relatively small area (Eastern Caucasus), indicates their hybrid nature.

Under natural conditions, the wealth of forms becomes all the greater, the more species grow near each other and vice versa. Nature in crossing out not only creates forms, but also fundamental species, I. Camillae Grossho, I. grossheimii Voron. 9 I. chalcownicowii (Shelkownikowii) Fom. and others. All this goes to show that natural crossing plays a great part in creating the wealth of forms. The method of crossing has been equally used by us for clearing questions in dispute concerning the origin of the Caucasian Oncocyclus species and for creating new forms. Some forms found in nature and equally spontaneous hybrids which came into being at the Institutes have been incorrectly described, as species. The clearing of questions of·origin by crossing gave remarkable results. An experimental analysis on the origin of I. koenigii had the following result: This spontaneous· hybrid was first described by D.J. Kosnowski As parents he named I. paradoxa and I, iberica. C.N. Matween pollinated I. paradoxa with pollen of I. iberica, and as a result obtained two hybrids: I. sosnotsky and I. ketzhoveli, which are not dissimilar to I. koenigii. By a reciprocal crossing of both species, the result was wholly different. The crossing of I. paradoxa and I iberica resulted in hybrids of the type Io sosnowslfl.t and I. ketzkhovelii, the reciprocal crossing· the type I. koenigii ~ Consequently, the parents of h koenigii were indeed I. paradoxa and I. iberica. ·

From 1950 to 1960 we obtained more than 50 forms. As material to begin with we used principally specimens of Oncocyclus. We endeavored to improve the decorative qualities. We crossed all low-growing species (Io lineolata, I. acutiloba, I. koenie;ii and others), with I. iberica var robusta. The hybrid forms: GOYA;, MERZEMALA:, MSCHWIDOBA SAMSCHOBLO -have a taller flower stalk and their decorative value represents a wholly new type. Also the time of bloom could be changed by crossing. In Tiflis, the early 1r1s of the Oncocyclus group, flower in the first half of April and the late ones at the beginning or in the middle of May.

By crossing 9 hybrids (MAKASCHILI, OTHELLO) were obtained with a later and longer time of bloomo Crosstngs between different species of Oncocyclus are simpie. More difficult they are between the species of different sections. But also here we have had some results (I. iberica var robusta with. I. sulphurea var lutea). The ·work of crossing with the section Oncocyclus has just begun and will be continued in the next years.

ED: From N. ll. Kachelac!se ncaucasian Ir1si1 in the periodical llFL0WER · BREEDING:1 9 ·Moscow, Nr. 12/1962. Translated by George Hacklanc1er from the Newsletter Nr. 5/1963 of the German Iris and Lilium Society.

Questions Please:

Species For Every Irisarian

Origin Of Iris Versicnlor

Notes For Field Identification

Notes On Some Seed Lots

For more information on historic Irises visit the Historic Iris Preservation Society at http://www.historiciris.org/

-- BobPries - 28 Sep 2017