I've seem a landscape plant nearby that I thought was intermediate
between D. grandiflora and D. bicolor. If I remember, and can figure
out which street it was on, perhaps I'll try to get a photo when the
weather warms up a bit.
Around here, D. grandiflora sets plenty of bee pods. I've never
tried pollinating the flowers. I'm more interested in dead-heading
to encourage bloom and discourage their slightly weedy nature.
Ken Walker
Concord, CA USA
On 1/13/2012 12:10 PM, David Ehrlich wrote:
Â
These rhizomatous plants are no longer considered to
br in the genus Moraea, despite how large that genus has
become. Dietes vegata is not an accepted name. 3
species of Dietes are common in the U.S.: D. grandiflora
and D. iridoides have white flowers; D.bicolor has cream
colored flowers with brown markings. All 3 are
self-fertile. There are some other species in the
genus, but they are very uncommon.ÂÂDietes
isÂgenetically too far removed from any plant in genus
Iris, or genus Moraea, for that matter, to be crossed
with them. I don't know whether different species of
Dietes can be crossed, but I have neverÂheard of any.Â
Considering how common these plants are where I live, I
should imagine that they might have crossed were they
capable of it, for they certainly porduce a great deal
of fertile seed.
Â
Davd E.
S. F. Peninsula
From:
a*@aol.com a*@aol.com
To:
i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Fri, January 13, 2012 9:23:06 AM
Subject:
[iris-species] African Iris
Â
Hi Everyone
I have been trying to Pollinate Moraea/dietes
without much success(I think). So far I have
inde3ntifed 3 varieties - bicolor, vegeta I
grandiflora.
I have been trying by pollinating as I did with
other iris. Major problem is the lack of adequate
eyeisight so much is on apporixmation fingers
touch. Assuredly not the bet approach.o.
Any suggestion other than don't? I never learned
to spell it. Evena momkey can poolinate an iris
and I'm counting on time being in my favor.
Al Bullock
