Re: Iris pallida cultivars and nomenclatural question

--- In iris-species@yahoogroups.com, dferguson@c... wrote:
"..nomenclatural question...." [concerning *Iris pallida* forms, etc.]

Dave, first of all, let me make a disclaimer.  I am by no means an 
authority on nomenclature, but I have grown (and loved) several cv's 
on your list.

"Squalens" as a term applies to blends and was actively in use in the 
AIS registry through 1949; in fact, I suspect the translation from 
the Latin would be "blend."  I doubt it would be appropriate to apply 
the term to all *pallida* x *variegata* hybrids.

Of those you list, I would say these are definitely *not* pallidas--

'La Neige' is a small white of flower form, plant character and 
branching that is almost pure *Iris variegata* except for petal 
texture and the gloss of the foliage which show its hybrid origin.  
It is listed, incidentally, by Winterberry.  What I had under that 
name was one of the iris I have enjoyed as much as any.  It has 
elegant simplicity.

'No-we-ta' (the hyphens belong in the name) is a blend, more 
*variegata* than *pallida* in character and proportions.  It appears 
to be quite an advanced generation hybrid with flower form and size 
substantially different from either of the parent species.

'Pink Ruffles' is a seedling of 'No-we-ta' and has an almost 
identical plant proportion and flower size.  As the pollen parent was 
close to *pallida* species type except in color--a lovely rose pink--
'Pink Ruffles' does have the *pallida* gloss and color in its 
foliage, but like 'No-we-ta' is more *variegata* than *pallida* in my 
estimation.  It also looks emphatically like a very advanced 
generation hybrid.  In fact, I'd hazard an opinion that as diploids 
go, 'Pink Ruffles' went about as far toward "modern" character as any 
diploid.  It also is rather late--about 1940.

I think I did grow 'Dogrose' briefly, and likewise 'Eros.' Both look 
to be almost pure *pallida* in plant character if I recall rightly, 
but I do not believe the pink or rose-pink color of each is typical 
of the species.  Someone having familiarity with wild populations of 
presumably pure *pallida* clones could speak to that with some 
authority.  I cannot.

Your project is interesting.  I should think the historians among us 
would find your end results of considerable value.

Neil Mogensen       zone 7  western NC mountains






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