RE: HYB: Pollinating Iris

>From the WOI, Chapter 22:

The flower of the pod parent should have been open just long enough for
the stigmatic lip to become separate from the style branch or arm.  This
usually occurs three or four hours after blossom opening.  The stigma at
this stage appears moist and pristine.

While it would be possible for an insect to beat you in the act of
pollination and thus introduce foreign pollen of an unknown parent, it
is not likely if pollination is done early in the day, less likely if
you use opening flowers and break off the three falls of the female
flower prior to pollination.  This denys a stray bee a landing place. 
Where absolute control of the pollen and pod parent is desired, bagging
both flowers before they open and the pod parent again after pollination
is necessary, as is removal of the stamens from the pod parent before
the natural opening of the flower.  Small bags of tightly woven cloth
should be tied around the pollinated flower and left on until the seed
is mature.

During the first few hours after pollination, the pollen grains that
were placed on the stigma send out tiny tubes which grow down through
the style into the ovary and then into the ovules or embryonic seeds.  

Rick Tasco
Superstition Iris Gardens
Central California
Zone 8
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