Thanks Dennis,
Here's that same seedling in full bloom (sadly, maybe
its first and last, due to "bloom-out").
I've also reposted an older picture I found of PALTEC
(Denis 1928) and FLYING DRAGON (my first of this type;
we're still trying to increase enough to introduce).
I'm still not quite sure what to make of this new one.
First of all, it doesn't have any cresting at all
(it's all beard) -- and it's supposed to be from Iris
tectorum alba, as the seed parent. I have recorded
that the pollen parent was a diploid bearded seedling
(KUPARI X Iris variegata). But from the appearance of
the seedling (color, height and branching), I'm
wondering if it might have been from the Iris furcata,
which I was trying out at the same time. That still
doesn't explain the lack of cresting though...
I have someone lined up to do a chromosome count on
FLYING DRAGON for me. If this new seedling doesn't
die, maybe I can convince him to count it for me, too.
That might help to confirm or discount its hybridity.
I haven't done any of these type crosses this season
-- too much other stuff going on. But, I still have
one more unbloomed potential hybrid seedling of this
type. It looks like it should be more than big enough
to bloom next year. I'll have to check my records to
be sure, but from memory, I think it's from the cross:
(Iris cengialtii x KUPARI) X tectorum.
Oh, I almost forgot, the other very puzzling thing
about that recent dark-purple "questionable hybrid".
It had anthers that looked very full of pollen. FLYING
DRAGON produces a small amount of pollen; PALTEC as
far as I can tell, makes none. So, I was more than a
little surprised to see all of the pollen. And on a
whim, I selfed that questionable seedling.
Well... if these aren't just balloon pods that are
swelling up, I'm gonna be even more curious.
I also, saved a few anthers aside to try on PALTEC and
FLYING DRAGON, but I think all of those attempts have
already aborted.
I really appreciate your interest in these
wide-crosses. As frustrating as they can be, they're
also very exciting when they do work out. I hope that
maybe you're being inspired (at least a little bit) to
try some too.
Good luck to you in your crosses!
Tom
Dennis wrote:
I think it's awesome you're working with these
crosses. I love this
kind of spec-x stuff.
Dennis in Cincy
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