Re: I. versicolor 'Murrayana'

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Versicolor is  setosa X virginica.  according to information current. Not an assumption, a scientific fact. Check this link.

http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/100/2/219.short

Where plant populations are found now is not were plants were found at time  that original  speciation of versicolor occurred.

The articles and exploration of  origins of versicolor came from were made previous to separation of  I hookeri into its separate species from I. setosa canadesis. I haven't looked into what was used for comparison of genomes, so it may possibly have been hookeri.

In any case, hookeri, I setosa Alasaka coast and I. setosa Alaska interior are all distinct populations of  setosa population, which is also present in Japan. All developed from original setosa, which had to  relatively close by before differentiation into these subspecies.

So if setosa  was able to cross with virginica, then hookeri  could very well cross as well.

There are lots of  isolated populations of "robusta"  iris found throughout Ontario and Quebec in areas quite remote from cultivated plants. (Tony Huber  did study of these as a paid botanist by Canadian government).  Robustas are rarely if ever sold in nurseries. I have never seen one advertized in any of the general Garden catalogues and never seen one in a nursary, (Always visit large nursaries where ever I go).

Most of the locations that Tony found robustas in are very remote from the Canadian location of virginica (Point Pele and in  a few isolated areas close to Point Pele)

Never ever heard of a Robuit being planted in wetlands restorations. Be very surprised if anyone did this. They are superviswd by botanists who are very careful that nativel species are being used.  If you have any information on Robustas being ussed this waay this would you forward the information?

In any case this would not apply to "Murrayana"  which was found in 1930's.

Chuck Chapman