RE: [SPAM] Re: HYB: Iris purpureobractea

Tom,
 
I copied and pasted some of our initial correspondence to the Arilrobin yesterday, with a note to Harald Mathes to try and get a response from him on any subsequent work he may have performed on I. junonia or PB.
 
Nothing back from Harald yet, but another die-hard dauber in the Arilrobin group, Elm Jensen of Wenatchee, Washington, replied that he's got year-old seedlings of a cross between I. junonia and the OGB I. 'Zerzura',  On a a side note, it caused a mini-tempest with other Arilrobin members about whether such a cross should be considered an OGB- or a SPEC-X, as the arilbred classification system is well-established since the late 70's (and a little exclusionary), and some folks don't always appreciate the hybrid curve-balls others like to keep pitching in.  But I digress . . .
 
The point is, others have tried wider crosses with the junonia-purpureobractea clade, and it seems to be producing viable seed, at least in the first generation.  Keep pitching Tom.
 
Gotta get to work.
 
 
Best regards,
 
 
Jeff Myers
Yucaipa, California
 
----- Original Message -----
From: t*@yahoo.com
Sent: 5/14/2008 6:59:42 AM
Subject: [SPAM][iris-species] Re: HYB: Iris purpureobractea

Thanks Jeff.
I thought branching and budcount might have had
something to do with it. But I can certainly
understand the curiosity motivation, because I'm
another one of those "daubers" he mentioned.

And yesterday I did get to try some purpureobractea
crosses. I used it's pollen on two different aphyllas,
and two different diploid seedlings (heavy on pallida
ancestry). I also tried pollen of one of those
diploids, on that first flower of purpureobractea. I'd
like to try some TB crosses with it, if they'll hurry
up and bloom. Otherwise I might have to refrigerate
some pollen.

I did some junonia crosses last season but didn't
start stratifying my seeds until late, so I've yet to
see any germinations.

Take care, Tom
------------------------------------------------
Jeff Myers wrote:
[Harald Mathes] primary motivations at the time seem
to have been both curiosity and the desire to increase
the number of flowers on arilbred inflorescences.
I'll transcribe Harald's introduction in the article:

"Three closely related species of bearded iris show a
potential for bringing improved branching into
arilbred lines.

I am aware of the attitude of elite species iris
enthusiasts: To hell with the pollen daubers who have
an itching to mix up all and everything they can get
their hands on. I am sorry, but I am one of those
daubers, and the reason is pure curiosity. By the
way, I am very glad to know some of the species
enthusiasts. They are sometimes growing rarities I'd
never thought possible, and to my surprise, I found
them always to be very obliging and cooperative.
Following are some of my experiences and observations
on of the less-known bearded iris species, Iris
schachtii, I. purpureobracteata, and I. junonia . . .
."

As to experiences with purpuerobractea, all he said
was that the first clone he grew had disappointing
lavender flowers and blotchy bract c oloration, since
he'd read of a superior ice-blue clone with more
solidly colored bracts. Perhaps he's succeeded in
attaining a better clone, 9 years on.

Jeff

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