I. iberica (was Spanish Iris)
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: I. iberica (was Spanish Iris)
- From: "* a* C* W* <c*@cache.net>
- Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 09:41:22 -0600 (MDT)
Anner wrote (30 Aug 97):
>I had assumed it (i.e., Spanish Iris) might have something to do with IRIS
IBERICA.
In ancient times there were two regions known as *Iberia*, just as in
modern times there are two Georgias. In fact, the lesser known Iberia is
the same region as the modern (formerly Soviet) Republic of Georgia,
located in the Transcaucasus area at the eastern end of the Black Sea. I
believe that in Botany, the use of *iberica* as a geographic specific
refers to this area, and not the Iberian peninsula in western Europe, for
which the term *hispanica* is used.
As Iris iberica is one of the aril species, an origin in the Transcaucasus
seems more likely than one in Spain.
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4, Sunset Zone 2)
cwalters@cache.net
