Re: Iris germanica/AMAS

----- Original Message -----
From: m*@msn.com
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Iris germanica/AMAS
"Here is the list of publication dates I've found for various names that have been related to the Near Eastern tetraploids....
 
"I. trojana then comes out as likely the oldest undisputed name which applies to this type of plant.  However, there seems still a question of whether the proper name is really I. trojana or I. kashmiriana."--Dave Ferguson
 
Dave, I do not believe trojana would be an appropriate choice.  From my own experience growing a clone of this species obtained from L. F. Randolph it is quite distinct in character from those descended from kashmiriana, mesopotamica, cypriana, 'Amas,' 'Macrantha,' or 'Ricardi.'  The plant habit, branching and flower character were quite distinct from the main group, judging by early hybrids of the latter types I once grew.  One of the other names, such as any one of the three species named above are more typical of the type characteristics of the main lot of first generation hybrids.
 
The distinctions in trojana, despite its apparent full fertility with the others (judging by early pedigrees), seem sufficiently distinct to set it parallel to but not representative of the majority of European diploid x Near Eastern tetraploid hybrids.  It would seem odd to me to isolate it as the nomenclatural representative.
 
From what you have written, we may be stuck with Iris germanica. I sincerely hope not!  Despite the 44-chromosome sterile hybrid status of Linneus' specimen, it does resemble modern fertile tetraploids more than trojana.  The use of Iris germanica to identify the more recently collected fertile tetraploids in Romania and Greece, the seeds from which are offered through SIGNA, would tend to support the use of this name.
 
I have four clones of seedlings, none of which have yet bloomed, from the collected form from NW Greece that are, I believe, second generation away from the original collected plant.  I am in the hopes that the one with several increase may escape spring frosts next year and bloom.  It failed to do so this year.  I am quite curious to see the flower.  The foliage and plant habit are indistinguishable from other tetraploid seedlings of very great distance from species origin.
 
Neil Mogensen  z  7  western NC mountains.
 

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