Re: SPEC: Color Reversions and ELSIE CROUCH DILTZ

In a message dated 98-04-15 15:47:57 EDT, you write:

<<  However, one case of possible reversion observed among thousands and
 thousands of irises grown and carefully examined around the world is not
 the same as the supposed general phenomenon of "all my irises turned white."
>>

I concur. It is, however, one documented instance of the change of color of
one individual (species) iris plant's blooms over time, either through
reversion, mutation, or some other mechanism not yet defined. It was
fortuitious that it occurred in the garden of a prominent irisarian who
recognized the significance of the change and published it, but that the
change occurred at all suggests that it may occur with more frequency in this
species than is documented.

I, too, remain skeptical about the observations leading to suggestions that
mixed populations of modern hybrid bearded irises can all change to white, or
purple for that matter. And I remain sceptical of all the traditional
explanations of how such a thing might have occurred. 

My private suggestion to Joe was that the so-called white irises in question
should be examined first hand by someone knowledgeable. I'm a firm believer in
the cogency of empirical evidence. If, impossible as it may seem, all that has
changed is  the color, then considerable variations of form and texture would
still be apparant.

Anner Whitehead, Richmond,Va
Henry Hall henryanner@aol.com
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