Fwd: Iris narcissiflora

Attached is Jim Waddick's note on narcissiflora

Note: forwarded message attached.

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  • To: Robert R Pries <r*@sbcglobal.net>
  • Subject: Iris narcissiflora
  • From: &* W* W* <j*@kc.rr.com>
  • Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 08:11:14 -0500
  • Content-length: 1032
Dear Bob;
	Maybe you could pass this along;

The real name is Iris narcissiflora named for its bright yellow flower somewhat like a flat narcissus. No foliage is known for the herbarium specimen or the single color slide. Neither Zhao, Mathew or I have seen a true specimen. All recent seeds and live plants have been mis-identified. This may be because of ignorance or an eagerness to sell a rare iris by too eager entrepreneurs.
SIGNA has sponsored a Sichuan native to seek this species without success. Zhao has a new student in Sichuan also seeking this species and I have contact with a US Grad Studenmt in Sichuan also given this goal. It remains elusive.


Here's about all that is known:
Small woodland iris that blooms late. The stems are probably about 8 inches tall with a single bright yellow flower about 2 1/2 inches across. The flowers are flat with a skimpy 'beard' on the falls. Foliage and rhizome unknown, but the foliage may not be present at bloom.

Although I had previously suggested it might be a Psuedoregelia, nothing really is evident. Woodland Pseudoregelias exist (I mandshurica), but are more of the exception. Why is no foliage evident? Very few rhizomateous iris bloom without foliage. The collection time of July suggest it is a very late bloomer, but this may reflect it's life at higher altitude.

The flower form is most un-iris like and it may represent something very different. Simply stated we need to have either live material or complete herbarium specimens. With the number of students, tourists and researchers wandering about in Sichuan surely someone will re-locate this species soon. Fingers remain crossed.


	best Jim
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
Near KCI Airport
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph.    816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
	Summer 100F +


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