I don't know as much about the bulbs as I should, other than the Junos, however, I will take a whack at this and invite corrections if I go awandering in nonsense:
Assuming the garden's signage is correct--and should they not have the authority on that name???-then, per the Kew check list:
" Iris latifolia (Mill.) Voss, Vilm. BlumengÃrtn. ed. 3, 1: 982 (1895)."
These look like what I know as the so-called "English Irises", recognizeable by the crimping and the spotting, and the broad falls, although I must say the singing blue-violet tone is somewhat unusual in my experience. These are found in the trade under all sorts of names including "Anglica."
Most folks have enough trouble just keeping them alive due to virus problems, and a tendency to rot nastily, but the people who'd know best about registered cultivars would be the Dutch Royal Bulbgrower's Association, who are ICRA for the bulbous irises.
I've got a cut from Curtis's which I believe is germane, and will attach.
Of course, if we are just talking about something offerring a similar garden effect being available in diverse named varieties, then what is probably wanted would be those which Robert Pries likes to call Iris xhollandica, but are generally known as the Dutch Irises, interspecific crosses developed by Krelage and others at the turn of the century and common in the cut flower market. Any larger and reputable bulb purveyor should be able to supply a selection of these, and I recommend them.
And, of course, a question directly to the staff of the self-same botgarden might not go amiss.
AMW
-----Original Message-----
From: Jean Richter <richter@eecs.berkeley.edu>
To: iris-species <iris-species@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 22, 2012 12:36 pm
Subject: [iris-species] Fwd: Iris latifolia
Passing this query along from a HIPS member -
is anyone out there familiar with I. latifolia?
Thanks,
Jean
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Iris latifolia
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:09:39 +0200
From: Mari Marstein <m*@online.no>
To: <r*@eecs.berkeley.edu>
Hello Jean,
I was in Lofoten islands in northern Norway last week, visiting museums and
historic gardens. Theese two irises (see attached pictures) grow in one of
the historic gardens there.
They are obviolusly different, but can anyone tell me if this is just
natural variation, or have Iris latifolia been bred to produce cultivars?
Greetings from
Mari in Norway
