Fw: Re: Distinguishing Pseudacorus from Versicolor?

 
----- Original Message -----
From: V*@msn.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: Distinguishing Pseudacorus from Versicolor?

Helen,

 

I have been reading the postings of how to distinguish I. pseudacorus, I. virginica, and I. versicolor with much interest.

 

First, I agree that pseudacorus should be removed from the habitat.  In my part of the world (SE US) it can take over and crowd out desirable native wetland plants, including native irises.

 

If one is familiar with the above mentioned irises one can tell most pseudacorus by looks and size.  It usually is taller than the other species. 

 

I am very dubious about distinguishing virginica by the cauline leaves frequently overtopping the flowers.  I grow some virginica clones originally collected from the wild where the norm is for the flowers to be above the leaves.  I have seen wild populations where that is the norm.

 

Even though versicolor is not native to the lower south, I grow some clones originally from further north.  Helen's statement that the versicolor leaves in the area under question are perfectly smooth, i.e., they have no center ridge surprised me.  In far as I can recall, I have always seen a center ridge on all pseudacorus, virginica, and versicolor clones that I have looked at.  I immediately went out in my garden and the versicolor in my garden all had center ridges.   

 

Is it possible that some other species of iris has been planted?

 

Vic

 

Victor W. Lambou

Crawfordville Florida

Zone 8B

 

 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: h*@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 3:51 PM
Subject: [iris-species] Re: Distinguishing Pseudacorus from Versicolor?

Hi Kenneth and James,

I went down to the stream and since versicolor is also in bloom I was
able to identify the plants and compare their foliage. Sure enough,
the pseudacorus has a nice sharp ridge down the center that is easily
seen and felt while the versicolor we have is totally smooth. Even a
lay person like myself couldn't mistake them - now that, thanks to
the species-iris group, I know what to look for.

The watershed director is very happy that we won't have to pull
everything up. Besides the painful thought of losing hundreds of blue
iris we would have had a freshly denuded landscape, a landscape just
recovering from all the construction work last year.

Thanks so much for your help!

-Helen

--- In iris-species@yahoogroups.com, Kenneth Walker <kenww@..> wrote:
>
> Helen,
>
> Looking at several varieties of each species in my garden,
pseudacorus
> does have a prominent ridge in the center of the leaf composed of a
> single vein. Versicolor has a less prominent ridge composed of 3
veins.
> I'd suggest someone compare leaves from a sample of plants in the
> wetland to see if they can be divided into two categories. Each
> volunteer could be armed with a sample leaf from each species when
> identifying the pseudacorus for eradication.
>
> Ken Walker
>
> James Harrison PhD wrote:
> >
> > Pseudacorus has a sharp vein in the middle of each leaf. Some
other
> > iris have a less prominent vein, like JI, but I think this is
the
> > easy way to pick out Pseudacorus.
> >
>

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