'Gerald Darby': Seeds, Descriptions, Nomenclature

---

I'm coming late to this discussion, so forgive me, please, if I repeat other contributions. I'm just lining out some Check List data here for my own information, so will share a few thoughts.

 

Regarding pods, note that the revised entry for Iris 'Gerald Darby' in the 1989 AIS Check Lists says "Sets few good seeds." It reads, in toto,

 

GERALD DARBY. (G. Darby by Coe, R. 1968) Change of classification, description, and parentage, to: LAEV apogon hybrid, up to 6' (183 cm). Blue violet with violet-colored leaf bases. Appears to belong to I. xrobusta, E. Anderson, the cross of I. veriscolor with I. virginica. Sets few good seeds. Chromosome count 2n=88-89.   

 

And the original Check List entry, from the 1969 volume:

 

GERALD DARBY. (Coe for G. Darby, deceased, R. '68). Sib-LA, 30",  June, V1D. Blue-purple self; twisted red stems. Flowers of Siberian; growth hapbit of I. foliosa. Orientalis x prob. two LA hybrids. Norton Hall '67.

 

Norton Hall is identified as Norton Hall Nurseries, Cold Norton, Essex, England.  

 

Regarding color charts. At various times several different charts have been favored by people and institutions in registering the names of Iris cultivars. There has, however, been some thought that the RHS chart was of limited utility as too often the colors did not match those of the flowers, and the cost was so high that it was not to be assumed that most people reading the descriptions would have the chart to hand to translate the codes.

 

Registrations for cultivars do differ sunstantially in kind and in form from the descriptions required for the publication of a new species, which are much more regimented.

 

About botanical drawings: I always feel very frustrated when the images in Curtis's or wherever do not show the root system, or bulb. It is uniquely annoying with the Junos; the plants look hacked off, and implausible.

 

I'm surprized to hear Plant Delights was reportedly insensitive to the issues at hand. I don't worship at the Plant Delights shrine, or have not since my personal vision has matured in another direction, but I know that they are, or were, AIS members, and that Avent has often articulated firm resolve with regard to ensuring correct nomenclature of his offerings from other genera. I can't see him going off the ethical rails for a bunch of subprime ensata seedlings. 

 

AMW