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
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean A. Zera <zera@umich.edu>
To: iris-species <iris-species@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Oct 6, 2011 9:51 am
Subject: Re: [iris-species] I. versicolor 'Murrayana'
I believe the current assumption is that versicolor is a hybrid
between virginica and hookeri (a.k.a. setosa v. canadensis). Not
counting hookeri, the nearest setosa is in southern Alaska, thousands
of miles away from versicolor or virginica.
Since virginica and versicolor (and probably Ãrobusta) are mixed up or
simply not distinguished in the nursery trade, and are planted in
large numbers in wetland mitigations and restorations, I'd be
surprised if there aren't lots of populations established outside
their original ranges.
Sean Z
Quoting Chuck Chapman <i*@aim.com>:
> I just looked at article on Murrayana.
>
> Very interesting.
>
> A couple of observations. The offspring of Murrayana X vesicolor
> sound very much like offspring of crosses of virginica x versicolor
> Except that the "Robusta" plants are usually fertile.
>
> Also versicolor were produced from a natural cross of setosa x
> virginica. And hokerii is very closely related to setosa. Hookeri
> and versicolor are both native to Newfoundland.
>
> I found Cast Ashore (a robusta) in an area that has versicolor but
> no virginica. so you can have plant relics or hybrid relics in
> strange locations.
>
> Chuck Chapman
>
> Sometimes
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eleanor Hutchison <e*@mymts.net>
> To: iris-species <i*@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wed, Oct 5, 2011 10:31 pm
> Subject: [iris-species] I. versicolor 'Murrayana'
>
>
> Todd, I rec'd this iris today, so looked up a bit more information
> about it and came across your interesting article at Dave's Garden,
> "The Story of Iris versicolor 'Murrayana'".
>
> I hope I planted it at the correct depth, as it had roots heading
> up one of the stems.
>
> El, Ste Anne, Manitoba, Canada
>
>
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