Re: Hi, there!

--- In iris-species@yahoogroups.com, Robt R Pries <rpries@s...> wrote:
> 
> Eirene; I looked at the painting and am fairly convinced that the
dark purple Iris is Iris germanica 

Dykes places I. germanica firmly in the eighteenth century at 1753,and
I. albicans at 1789, as I. florentina (if I'm reading this correctly -
I find Dykes to be very confusing), and references a seventeenth
century source for I. germanica, which in turn references a sixteenth
century source. (p 165 in my copy) I suppose it's not too much of a
stretch to say that the species was probably in cultivation half a
century before being noted by Valerius Cordus, but absence of evidence
cannot be considered evidence in itself. 

> `Superstition' is not a germanica. Most gardening books have this
rather messed up and almost any Tall bearded Iris is called germanica.

Well this *seemed* odd; thanks for the clarification. 

> The modern tall-bearded Iris are best called by the scientific name
Iris xaltobarbata. I believe most scientists would use the name Iris
germanica for the triploid natural hybrid that is often referred to as
Grandmas Old flags. It is a dark purple that in some light appears two
tone with the top being slightly lighter. This is somewhat a textural
property of the petal surface and in other light they can seem almost
the same color from standard to falls. The painting has portrayed this
as slightly darker than one normally sees but could be a bit of
artistic license. 

Well, I wonder about that; compare the depth of color of the iris with
the dark blue of the gown just behind it. It is true that pigments
will change over time, but I don't know that this is the case here. It
could be; I haven't spoken to any conservationists about it. 
 
> There are a number of tall bearded species that would have possibly
been in gardens prior to 1600 and they are a controversial interesting
group.

That's what I'm looking for!

> You might
>  try Colorado Iris by Lowell Baumunk for plants. Search for Iris
Colorado on your search engine. 

Thanks - they're bookmarked, and I was considering dropping by to see
what I could dig up (heh!). They're on my side of town, unlike Long's
which is spectacular (and the source of much of my TB collection) but
over an hour away. 

Fall here is sunny, and we even have a lot of 50-degree days into
December. It seems like transplanting irises should still be
achievable for a few more weeks. Or am I engaging in wishful thinking?


> Welcome to the group. 

Thanks! Perhaps you all can help me interpret Dykes! :-)

Melanie (Eirene)






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