Re: new member

---

Fillipo; Welcome as a new SIGNA member. I am pleased that you are interested in the SIGNA checklist. I hope my previous post did not sound like a grumpy old man. Even though I fit that description I am delighted that you are interested in Iris species. The checklist has been a labor of love for almost 20 years now and has continued to improve with each update. If I live long enough and have the energy it will develop into an encyclopedic work on Iris. Although there have been additions from the last year, we usually offer it for sale in even years. This means that the current files are not all updated for 2007.

When I say files I refer to the fact that Checklist has been a collection of descriptive and annotated lists. Each list complements the other but could be used independently. The last printing has become rather large and increased the cost. It has been suggested that maybe the lists should be printed separately. For example one list is a list of the people who have discovered species and hybridizers who have worked with them. This who's who list the plants that the scientist or hybridizer has named and a short biography of the person. Some have suggested to reduce costs this section might be printed separately. Another section is an list of references of Iris literature. Again another section displays by species the selections and then the hybrids that were created from that species.

Of course the primary list is a descriptive list of the types of plants. While the primary list is maintained each year the auxillary lists are usually not updated until we prepare for a formal printing. Will Plotner has been printing individual copies in between bulk  printings using the files as they stand at that time. These are generally sold close to the cost of printing which is more since there is no bulk rate.

While maintaining the SIGNA checklist I have been working on and have had dreams of an expanded version that would be the encyclopedia. Presently with over 2,000 illustrations it would take 5 volumes to publish. I am beginning to doubt that I can ever complete it and if so if anyone could afford it. At times I think maybe I should edit it down to something less ambitious.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Filippo Dimatteo" <fillidik@hotmail.com>
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 4:09:13 AM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
Subject: RE: [iris-species] new member