AIS: REF: AIS as International Registration Authority

In a message dated 12/6/04 10:42:19 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
irismoose@daylily.net writes:

<<  How this relates to irises is that the American Iris Society (AIS) is 
assigned 
 as the ICRA for irises by the ISHS. >>

*Assigned* is a odd word to hear here. Rather smacks of the boot on the 
throat. Or are you using the word subtly in the pure legal sense, so that the 
mechanism you are describing is a trickle down of *authority*, hierarchy-wise, as 
it 'twere? 

In any case, as I understand it AIS was *requested* to assume these important 
international duties because of AIS' very long and distinguished history of 
sorting out muddled nomenclature of the genus Iris, publication of Check Lists, 
and establishment of formal registration procedures, all of which activity 
dates from the very earliest days of the Society. The first AIS Check List was 
Bulletin 4, dated January, 1922. The formalization of the role as you are 
describing it came in 1955 when broad changes were effected in the international 
system itself, but there was little question that AIS would handle the garden 
Irises. I believe there is material in the Archives about all this. It has 
certainly come up from time to time.

<<The Iris Society then assigns the  Registrar, in this case, it is Mike 
Lowe.  In fact, Mike Lowe is listed in  the new ICNCP book as the Registrar for 
irises through the AIS.>>

Well,  the Society then *requested* Mike Lowe undertake the onerous task of 
Registrar, and Lowe--having failed to talk me into taking the job-- relieved 
Keppel of the baton, and so it has gone for decades. I think we do need to 
remember here that we are talking only of the non-bulbous Irises----new bulbous 
cultivars are handled by the Dutch Bulb Growers Association---and remember, too, 
that establishing a new Iris species is a different and more elaborate kettle 
of fish altogether, one which follows the rules and formal procedures of 
botanical science.

Here is a fun page for those who want to know more about IRAs. It is 
interesting to see who is keeping up with one genus and another.

<http://www.ishs.org/icra/>

<< Does anyone know if the AIS has an established appeal process for the 
registration of an iris cultivar?  Is there a registration review committee 
 that handles appeals? >>

It is not impossible, I suppose, although I have never heard of such a thing 
and I doubt there is any such standing committee. Why would it be needed when 
the Code is perfectly clear and those selected as AIS Registrar are invariably 
smart and reasonable and there is all that fine assigned authority for Lowe 
to stand on?  Surely the problems that arise are few. Are there so many 
ambiguous situations in other genera that a court of appeals must be established to 
sort out heated and icky muddles? But when did any committee ever sort out 
anything....my word, the exciting new stuff you learn on this list!  

BTW, I am changing the subject line. It seems to me that because Irises *are* 
the topic of this mailing list, nothing concerning Irises is really Off Topic.

Cordially,

Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA
"There is yet among the Irises quite a confusion in names, some kinds having 
three or four. Then again there are two Josephines and three Sapphos, and it 
will take some time to get the kinks out of the tangle." 
The Rev. C. S. Harrison, York NE, (1832-1919) 

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