Re: SPEC: Color Reversions and ELSIE CROUCH DILTZ
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: SPEC: Color Reversions and ELSIE CROUCH DILTZ
- From: "* A* M* <w*@Ra.MsState.Edu>
- Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 14:52:51 -0600 (MDT)
On Wed, 15 Apr 1998, Bill Shear wrote:
>
>
> I remain very skeptical of the observations leading to these suggestions...
>
> Bill Shear
> Department of Biology
> Hampden-Sydney College
Guess this is one of those 'me, too' posts! I have been around
irises for about two-thirds of my 'long life,' and have heard the 'they
all eventually turn to white' theory by people who have never even planted
an iris. But, during all this time and after having grown thousands of
irises, I have never seen it happen. Nor, have I ever observed a 'sport.'
The only unusual thing I can report after all this iris exposure is that I
have observed a 'proliferation' on an iris about twenty years ago.
I can see one iris in a field having a 'reversion' or 'mutation'
or 'sporting,' but I cannot see an entire field of multi-hued irises
changing to white. Most of this 'they all eventually turn to white'
business stems from non irisarians who are perpetuating an old wives' tale
long lost in legend. Have these people really ever grown a field of
irises, or, are they just repeating something somebody told them?
I am still waiting for some of the irises my grandmother grew to
turn to white.
SWERTII was introduced in 1612, and it hasn't turned white yet as
far as I know. How long does it take for an iris to turn all white?
Maybe, this will be the year. I will give this priority and will report
to you later when I see a previously colored iris turning white. Gosh! I
already have made my entry tag for DUSKY CHALLENGER. What if it turns
white this year?
Walter Moores
Enid Lake, MS 7/8
