Re: No Idea. Help please?

Christy,

You are a genius. I started focusing on speices five years ago. I have 
bought no "standardized" specimens.  My learning curve is based on the 
experience of seeds I have received fron Signa. . I have unpredictable 
germination. I have unpredictable survival rates. In my career it was 
essential that I keep accurate. detailed records, but in my play I often 
slip up.  I draw a plot map, and then I lose one or more items, and then I 
am not sure who is who.  But the surprises make the errors worthwhile.

Then,  I discover the amazing variation within a species. This leads me to 
recognize that there is immense intra-species variation, only to be 
expected, as St. Charles D. described,  but I consider also the possibility 
that there is a lot of accidental hybirdization.  Especially between 
versicolor and verginica.

E. g. I have an unusual pseudacorus, marked by central leaf spine, but with 
virtually no stnadards.

I trust you are correct about the foetid iris, for I have been looking for 
it, because I have areas of shade where I want to establish it.  I have one 
other simimlar plant, in a shadier area, which has not bloomed yet. To be 
sure, I will act on your assessment and put these two children in the shade 
where they belong, for I have far more shade  than direct sun.  I love my 
trees too, even more than iris, but I want everything.

Though I virginica is native to the costal iris of our state, 400 miles east 
of where I live and 2000 feet lower in altitude, inspite of attempting to 
get it well established here, I do not seem to have many.  Meanwhile, and 
thanks to your identifying 2 setosas, which I did not think I had, I have 
this incredibal array of versicolors -- assessed by the branching. Dennis 
says his virginicas are just coming on line, so I will be looking this week.

However, apart from branching, I am not convinced that I can differentiate 
between these two species, v. & v.. If I had an ideal type in my garden, 
surely I would be able to. But I am not convinced I can tell the difference 
between these children on the ground. There is varation in the amount of 
yellow on the signal, the nature f the veining, and the ratio of 2 white to 
yrlloe in the singnal.  This of course is complicated by the reality that on 
the coast they are often growing in swamps and can become giants.  We have 
lots of rain, but we have a very different acidic, clay soil here in WNC, so 
both versicolor and verginica, are diminished in size here. However, 
versicolor, at leasts, prospers..

If the pattern following Dennis's reports, I should expect Virginicas to 
come on line in the middle of the week. In reality I think there may have 
been lots of inter-specie hybirdation, and that would of of course occor 
most often in bee pods of gardeners who are growing both and sending us 
seed..

Thanks for everyone's help. More to follow.

James Harrison
Asheville 



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