They are not the same color, and may or may not actually exhibit the same plant form. 'Batik,' the female parent, is a BB.
According to the RHS chart, which the hybridizer has cited with some precision, the base color of one is, to his eye, notably redder purple. It would seem to me that redder is a very interesting thing for it to be, genetically. They are both both exceptional seedlings in that they are registered as F1 of a white form of a documented wild collected species. From the seedling number, it appears they may also be podmates.
The AIS has always--since the 1920s-- actively discouraged introduction into commerce of iris cultivars which were not adequately distinctive. What makes an iris distinctive--especially when you are dealing with an emerging field like broken color-- is not entirely a matter of the salient, so that the call is left with the introducer, who will be the originator, or his/her agent.
Registration with the AIS is another matter. Registration is about names.
AMW
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Archer <pharcher@mindspring.com>
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:55 am
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Spec-X?
Not to dwell on the matter, especially since the whole matter and apparent frustration has died down. But I just noticed something in the Registry for two Introductions. It was touched on that a Hybridizer could vie for certain awards by how they classified their Introduction. That was only relating one cultivar to one class. However, these two specific cultivars were not mentioned together. They are 'Alpha Gnu' and 'Blueberry Philly'. AG is Registered as a Spec-X and BF is Registered as an IB with only a difference in height of an inch, base color.
BLUEBERRY FILLY
(Brad Kasperek, R. 1998) Sdlg. 94-13-67. IB, 23" (58 cm), VE
Blue violet (RHS 89B/C), silver white streaking; style arms violet blue; beards light yellow; broken color pattern; slight fragrance. Batik X Ostry White. Zebra 2000.
ALPHA GNU
(Brad Kasperek, R. 1998) Sdlg. 94-13-20. SPEC-X, 22" (56 cm), VE
Red violet (RHS 88A/B) streaked silver white (155C); style arms violet lavender; beards light yellow; broken color pattern; slight fragrance. Batik X Ostry White. Zebra 1999. HM 2002, HM 2003, AM 2005, Ran-P 2008.
Has anyone seen them side by side or at least in person to be able to tell a difference?
So, we are to guess Mr. Kasparek, is attempting to vie for two awards by classifying them differently?
Is that fair? Can that be justified? Another loophole for Hybridizers to wiggle through?
Please don't misunderstand me, Brad is a very nice person and very hard working, but at what point will AIS draw the line assuming there is no real difference morphologically between them?
