Dykes, The Genus Iris 222. tab 45. 1913, Description. Rootstock , an ovate bulb with greyish-white, netted coats as in I. reticulata but somewhat more slender. Leaves , usually two from each bulb, 4-6 inches long at flowering time and finally a foot or more in length, hollow, cylindrical, with 8 ribs, of a glaucous bluish green, with a white horny tip as in I. reticulata. Stem , very short if any. Spathe valves , narrowly lanceolate, membranous, greenish by reason of the conspicuous green veins on a whitish ground. Pedicel , very short at first, but afterwards growing and bringing the ripe capsule to the surface. Ovary , cylindrical. Tube , 3-6 in. long, rising 1-1½ in. above the spathes, with 8 deep violet lines in the upper part. Falls . The oblong-elliptical haft is separated by a slight constriction from the small, sharply reflexed ovate blade. The latter is of an intense violet at the tip and round the circumference, the central space being white with small deep violet spots. Along the upper part of the haft runs an inconspicuous pale yellow streak, hardly raised into a ridge and becoming white on the blade. The sides of the haft bear oblique parallel lilac veins on a pale whitish ground, which is dotted with violet down the centre. Standards , erect, oblanceolate, of a uniform deep lilac colour. Styles , slightly narrower than, and as long as, the haft of the falls, keeled, of a bluish purple colour. Crests , large, almost quadrate with a finely serrated outer edge. Stigma , bilobed. Filaments , pale violet, rather longer than the anthers. Anthers , blue with deep violet edges. Pollen , golden yellow, of the characteristic reticulata shape, one segment of the exine being, however, noticeably smaller than the other. Capsule , rounded trigonal, tapering at either end, with creamy white, papery walls, about an inch long. Seeds , of the reticulata type but somewhat small. Fragrance . Some flowers are strongly violet-scented, others much less ; or it may be that warmth is required to bring out the fragrance.This beautiful little species is interesting as being separated by one distinct feature from all the other members of the reticulata group, namely by the structure of the leaves, which are octagonal in section. Its habit of growth, its flowers, pollen, seeds and netted bulb closely resemble those of I. reticulata but its eight-ribbed leaves are unlike those of any other known species. Among seedlings of this Iris slight variations in colouring are found, in the arrangement that is of the violet markings on the white ground, not in the actual shade of colour. Moreover, similar, though slight, variations are found in offsets from the same bulb, an undoubted instance of variation in plants produced by vegetative, as opposed to sexual, increase. I. Bakeriana is perfectly hardy but, as it usually flowers during the most inclement weather of the year, in January and February, it is worthy of a sheltered position. If it can be given the protection of a temporary glass roof, when in bloom, the flowers will last a fortnight and defy many degrees of frost. Bulbs that are doing well may be left undisturbed for two or three years, for this species is not one of those that form a large number of small offsets round the base of the large bulb. A bulb that has flowered usually splits into two or three, one or two of which will flower in the following season. For further notes on soil and cultivation, see the introduction to the Reticulata Section.Hybrids. No certain hybrids of this species appear to be known but a few years ago the late Max Leichtlin sent me a bulb with the name of I. Bakeriana var. melaint1, with a note to the effect that he had raised it from seed. It closely resembles the type, except that the spathes rise to the top of the tube, and that the deep violet edging covers a larger portion of the blade of the falls. There is however one marked difference, namely in the leaves, which suggests the possibility that the plant is a hybrid of I. Bakeriana crossed with pollen of I. reticulata. The leaves instead of being octagonal, as in the type, have six ribs, set at irregular intervals as in I. reticulata.See the introductory notes on the reticulata section see reference at (Subgenus Hermodactyloides ) |