Yes, Iris setosa has a wery wide distribution.
I have been trying to figure out Iris setosa subspecies, forms, and
variations for quite a few years, and do not profess to know about
all of the finer details. My experience has only been reading every
book and internet source (in English) that I can find on I. setosa
and photographing all I can find. (I flew 350 miles north to
Fairbanks just to see Iris setosa interior (and the many variations
that Larry Duffy had collected and donated) in bloom this past
summer.)
Iris setosa (subspecies ?) I have seen and photographed in the wild
in the Russian Far East, the wild collected Iris setosa interior
collection(of forms collected up to 50 years ago) at the
Georgeson Botanical Garden in Fairbanks, Ak, I. setosa canadensis in
a friend's (Anchorage) garden, and Iris setosa var. arctica
(purchased as plants from two diverse sources,) and Iris setosa nana
(which I cannot find any literature on but is much more petit than
I.s. arctica forms I have.) All have the very small bristle-like
standard that are
no larger than 1/4 inch in the largest of these flowers. I seldom
travel out of Alaska during the summer to see I. setosa from other
wild stocks in bloom.
According to the literature, I.s. hondoensis Honda or Kurosawa (in
Japan) has standards 1 1/8 inch tall. I.s. var. nasuensis Hara or
Kurosawa (also in Japan) is said to have standards 3/4 inch and is
thought to probably be a hybrid. I.s. form platyrhyncha Hulten (from
Aleutian Islands and other coastal Alaskan areas) is said to have
standards larger and wider that I.s. setosa, but how much larger is
not clear. I have not been there yet.
If the meaning of setosa means "with hair" I suppose I beleived
someones interpretation that took that to mean that it was the
standard that was being referred. Several sources say bristle-like
standard, maybe an interpretaion of "with hair." I do not actually
know where I was told "setosa" meant roughly (by inference ???)
without standard. (Another good point to investigate! :) )
Perhaps with the wide distribution of members to this group we will
be able to send in photos from wild stocks of Iris setosa. (I still
do not see how photos are attached to these messages - like so many
of you have done. Are there directions posted somewhere?)
I am giving a talk on Irises that grow here to the Anchorage Master
Gardeners this coming March and would love to have this figured out
before then. If anyone has source material, recommendations for
further reading, or photos that I could use for the talk and my
personal understanding, please feel free to send them my way.
thank you for this discussion,
Debbie
--- In iris-species@yahoogroups.com, gardenersfriend@... wrote:
>
> This is all vey interesting as far as the identification of Iris
setosa as there does seem to be some variation as to the size of the
standards in this species.
> Jim in Saskatoon
>
>
> From: JamieV.
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 12:34 PM
> To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: Forgot to include photo of Iris
setosa?
>
>
> Debbie,
>
> Iris setosa has a very wide distribution, ranging over North
America to Siberia and Northern Japan. Various forms are known and
some have stronger standards than others. From forms I've seen, the
plant in question looks pretty correct. Maybe Jim Waddick can
comment.
>
> And setosa means 'with hair', but I don't know what they were
referring to.
>
>
> --
> Jamie V.
>
> _______________________
>
> Köln (Cologne)
> Germany
> Zone 8
> akdebshort schrieb:
> I agree that the standards are much too large to be a straight Iris
> setosa. at least, it is not like any of the Iris setosa I have
seen
> around here growing wild or in any garden.
>
> I think "setosa" means somthing like "no standards".
>
> If I knew how to post a picture to this message, I would.
>
> Would anyone be interested in Iris setosa seed for the seed
> exchange? It is so very common here we usually throw it away.
Maybe
> I can find some full pods.
>
> Debbie
> Anchorage, Alaska
> zone 3-4
> 21*F this morning and gardening outside now requires a lot of hot
> chocolate.
>
