Described in SIGNA by Nigel Service as; "Leaves 40 cm (16 in.) long x 3.5 cm (1.4 in.) wide. Becoming broadest well over half-way up. Blue-green, glaucous, not pigmented at base. Moderately deciduous, 5.166 on the scale of 15. Stems about 34 cm (13.4 in.) long, with the longest recorded 39 cm (15.3 in.) long, with 3-4 basal leaves and one stem leaf.1 or 2-branched. The upper about 4.0 cm (1.6 in.) long, the lower, from well above the midpoint, about 8.0 cm (3.1 in.) long. The early bracts, on first becoming visible, lightly stained pinkish, particularly around the margins and with some darker flecks near the apex. Later sparsely marked with isolated light blotches. Spathes pigments and very membranous at apex, barely stained below but marked with a number of elongated blotches. Two weeks before flowering spathes already 1/3 scarious. Outer valve 4.5 cm (1.8 in.) long, inner valve 5.0 cm (2.0 in.0 long. Single flowered from apex and from each branch. Flowers of flimsy substance, standards blue-violet, falls purple, diameter 10 cm (4.0 in.). Flower size small. Slightly scented. Pedicel 5 mm. Ovary 1.2 cm (0.5 in.) long x 0.5 cm (0.2 in.) wide, roundedly triangular, 6-grooved. Tube 3.1 cm (1.2 in.) long pale green, notably grooved below standards. Falls open RHS 82A but darker with a line about 88A down the center and a narrow margin about 90C. Fades to 81A, central line ± 88B, edged 90D. Haft whitish veined brownish-purple. Reverse green, lightly marked in center and with much darker marks towards edges. Striation ground white, whitish towards edges. Striations brownish violet, more violet towards blade and continued out well beyond tip of beard at edges. Beard yellow 15A. white at base, quite dense. 7.2 cm (2.9 in. long x 3.3 cm (1.3 in.) wide. Standards opening ± 94C/91A, fading to 91B. Haft yellowish, white at base of blade, veined pale brownish-violet. 7.1 cm (2.8 in.) long x 4.0 cm (1.6 in.) wide. Style arms very pale blue, stronger towards the keel. 4.6 cm (1.8 in.) long overall with the crest 1.4-1.6 cm (0.55-0.63 in.) long, opening striped 92A and 84C/90D, fading to around 91A-B with darker veins. Pod and seed not produced. Flowering late mid-season. |
Comments; "This was sent to me by Jerry J. Flintoff when he lived in the city after which it is named. I seem to remember, it was as long ago as 1987, that it was a local form which he gathered for me. The plant is not vigorous. Its dwarf stature makes it seem possible that it is a seedling." [Iris germanica L.]. |