SPEC: CULT: Setosa parameter

I have an opportunity to be involved in an iris study in relation to a
potential wild iris "rescue" for the Dept. of Transportation in an area
being widened for a state highway, and need a little feedback.
Normally when the state is building a new road, they open up the
right-of-way area to the public for wild plant/timber harvest before
construction, which works out very well.  This is a little different, as
DOT will be eliminating a stand of iris that, while not "special", may have
unique qualities they need to identify before starting construction.
It involves an area, Turnagain Arm, which was hard hit by the 9.2
earthquake in 1964 and sank an average of 4', I believe.  It wiped out many
stands of wild iris growing for miles on the mudflats in the Arm.  There
are few visible stands left, and DOT is concerned about the impact of
eliminating the largest of the remaining, in case they are unique in some
respect, and need to be protected.  There are actually many smaller ones
left - they just don't know it, as they aren't as highly visible as the one
they will be building on, though I'll be making them aware of these.  They
have a department which handles environmental impact, and are in touch with
biologists, but they needed a little specific information about THESE iris
stands in particular, which is where I came in (I'm not sure how.... but
I'm not going to say anything about my lack of credentials, as I'm afraid
they may dismiss my recommendations if they find out I'm an amateur).  I DO
have some valid insights to give about the iris in the Arm, as I've
wandered around in just about all of them, but it isn't what they're going
to be expecting I think, as the uniquest stand in the whole Arm isn't the
one they're looking at, which doesn't have any mutations going on peculiar
to that group yet, but another smaller one, which I've been eying for
years, but from which I haven't harvested a specimen as it is close to the
highway, in clear view of cars whizzing by, quite possibly within the
right-of-way, even though it is a wet swamp up to my waist.  I've waded out
to look at them, and I've never seen Alaskan iris setosa growing in such a
constantly wet spot.  This spot had dropped during the earthquake too, but
for some reason, a few here were able to hang on, and modestly multiply
(around 200).  I'm hoping that I'll finally get some specimens on the
up-and-up via the project (I've seriously considered other means, all
involving obscuring phenomenon, like fog, night, rain, etc. but I much
prefer staying out of gray legal areas, and not setting a bad example, if I
can help it, because I have so many other areas where I can freely
harvest).
Even though the stand they will be eliminating doesn't deserve "special" or
"unique" status, as there are just too many remainders left of the large
pre-earthquake group, I will still recommend transplanting as many as
possible with perhaps volunteer labor from the Alaskan Wildflower Society,
etc., to another mudflat down the road, which has never managed to become
seeded by iris yet, though it will make a very acceptable iris flat :-)
Anyway .....  I am writing a preliminary background for the project, and
have a few gaps in my setosa knowledge.  I know how far north they grow,
BUT I discover I don't know the southern limitations for this species.  I
have figured so far it is roughly zone 8 (winter temperatures of 10-20
degrees F).  Does anyone on this list grow them in a warmer zone or know of
someone who does, or lives in zone 8, but for whom this species doesn't
survive? Thanks in advance......  you can respond off-list if you'd rather.

Kathy Haggstrom
Anchorage, AK (by Turnagain Arm)USA
zone 3 (we're in that ambivalent season right now where I have to put away
the winter gear and activities with a bit of regret, as the snow is
disappearing fast, and I had to get my plane off the rotten ice, but have
the recompense of greenery peeking up, and increasing amounts of daylight,
though nothing is foolish enough to start blooming yet without a heavy
reprimand by Mother Nature, which it would deserve.  Oh, except for the
Pussywillows - they've been out for 3 or 4 weeks and are quite nice and
furry this year)




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