RE: Iris hexagona

 

Hi, Rodney. I should get Cathedral Blue for comparison purposes. I have heard the story about how a collected hexagona turned up in Louisiana, but have forgotten it. Iâll have to do a little research.

 

There is a fairly common passalong iris in South Louisiana, especially in Baton Rouge, that sounds a lot like I. hexagona. It looks somewhat like I. giganticaerulea, but much shorter and with more rounded petals. Also, it is a late bloomer, competing with I. brevicaulis. These are some major characteristics of hexagona. Giganticaerulea is an early bloomer. I have no idea where the passalong iris came from but it is vigorous (though maybe sterile). Back in the early days, it is entirely possible that Louisiana folks traded irises with people in South Carolina or Florida, or perhaps this is some sort of a hybrid. So much information has been lost with the passage of time and of iris enthusiasts.

 

Years ago, Joe Mertzweiller gave me an iris sent to him from South Carolina that seemed like an authentic I. hexagona. A late bloomer that fit the description of I. hexagona. I think it may still be in the Baton Rouge Botanic Garden where Joe donated most of his plants. The provenance would be iffy, if it could be found. I sure do wish it were possible to obtain a South Carolina specimen for comparison. I suspect that I. hexagona is in North Florida, but that the South Florida plants are not the same thing. A South Carolina plant would have to be pure I. hexagona. I read that there is some in a State Park under the protection of Rangers, or whatever they call the guys with badges. I hope they do protect what is left, because most of the documented SC locations have been inundated by man-made lakes, I understand.

 

These are all the musings of a total lay person. I wish people properly trained would do some systematic research and weigh in on these issues. I have not yet read the papers that Brian send earlier, so perhaps some of my questions will have been answered.

 

Patrick

 

From: iris-species@yahoogroups.com [mailto:iris-species@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rodney Barton
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 12:34 PM
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Iris hexagona

 

 

Hi All,

 

Interesting subject! 

 

As for sources, Plants Delight Nursery offerers an I. hexagona. I emailed asking about provenance and got no reply. Also it's thought that the cultivar 'Cathederal Blue' collected by Caroline Dorman is I. hexagona. CB is available from Bois d'Arc. I had a hexagona clone, purchased from Farron Campbell and now lost, that was very similar to and bloomed late with 'Cathederal Blue'. I don't know the provenance for Farron's Iris either. 

 

Rod

 

From: Patrick O'Connor <p*@cox.net>
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 11:08 AM
Subject: RE: [iris-species] Iris hexagona

 

 

Seanâs post raises interesting questions.  I. hexagona was named based on a South Carolina specimen, but the iris apparently is all but extinct in South Carolina.  For a number of years I have been trying to locate a start in order to compare it to some Florida irises and those in Louisiana (where I live).  While some people do recognize I. savannarum, others do not, and, in fact, some apply I. hexagona to I. giganticaerulea in Louisiana. 

 

My question has long been where do âtheyâ write this stuff down?  How could I find documentation that one species name is appropriate and another not? 

 

I am very doubtful that there is only one species in the Series Hexagona in Florida based on variation Iâve seen in growth  habit and bloom season.  But species are invented categories, and I donât pretend to know how to apply them or where to draw lines.  However, there is clearly significant variation within I. hexagona-I.savannarum-I. giganticaerulea that âtheyâ need to recognize and document.

 

I have some information on the Florida irises on my website that may be of interest:   http://zydecoirises.com/Species/Florida/FloridaIrises.htm

 

Patrick

 

 

 

From: i*@yahoogroups.com [i*@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean Zera
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 9:44 AM
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Iris hexagona

 

 

By "real", do they mean Iris hexagona sensu stricto? Some taxonomists consider most of the plants usually called hexagona to be a seperate species, Iris savannarum. The name I. hexagona is then restricted to a rare species found only in South Carolina and Florida. Most, however, consider them to be the same species. The flowering period is reportedly dramatically different where the two overlap. The Rainbow River plants would be the earlier-blooming I. savannarum. I would guess nobody sells the "true" hexagona, since savannarum is far more common and widespread and usually goes by hexagona.

 

Sean Z

 

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