Re: Luminatas, etc., etc.

Ah, the problem with posting is that you are then asked questions!!
And if I didn't prove how much I don't know earlier, I will,
shortly.....   :>)

Lorraine...there is no simple "one-liner" on separating plicatas from
luminatas.  True, plic markings tend to be on veins, lumi markings
between veins...but this is talking in generalities, and there are too
many other factors.  Plics have marking across the haft, lumis have a
clear unmarked central-haft area near the beard.  Plics have markings
along the outer fall margin (usually), lumis have an unmarked outer rim
(usually).  And you get some things which, quite frankly, I look at and
cannot assign to either category visually.

Lowell....the dominant anthocyanin inhibitor  (the "I" of iris genetics
articles) suppresses but does not totally wipe out the anthocyanin (the
water-soluble cool colored pigments which are the basis for the plicata
patterning).  Thus, what would otherwise be a "normal" plicata without
"I", becomes a "ghost plicata" with "I", showing the patterning but only
on close inspection.

Luminatas with "I"?  Never really thought about it...but am wondering if
things like Blushing Blonde would qualify, or if it's simply a case of
very little anthocyanin pigment to start with, without suppression.

In glaciatas, NO anthocyanin is formed, so the glaciatas produce the
MOST vivid/clear/pure  (carotene/oil soluble/warm)  colors, with no
anthocyanin pigment to grey them.

The dominant anthocyanin inhibitor gene ("I") is found in almost all
(we're talking tall bearded) whites, warm pinks, yellows, and oranges.
Snow Flurry is supposedly a lavender-plus-"I", wiping out so much of the
anthocyanin pigment that it is only a cool white, or very pale icy
lavender in bud.    A pink which also carries blue or lavender AND the
"I" factor will probably be a cool, or blue pink;  if it doesn't carry
the inhibitor, the blue would be expressed and dependent upon the
particular hue and amount, you would probably have a tangerine orchid or
mauve or something similar.

Dave --- yes, there ARE glaciatas amongst species beardeds.  There is a
white glaciata form of I. pallida which has been registered as 'Kupari'
-- 24 chromosomes.  At the 48 chromosome level would be the   I. aphylla
registered as 'Ostry White'.   And here we get into more questions.  On
Ostry White, particularly, there is a noticeable wash of lavender on the
outside of the falls.  So how can this be a glaciata?  Is this a
"different" pigment not under control of the same gene, a
distribution-of-pigment factor, or....?

There is a (probably) parallel situation in tall beardeds, where the
backs of buds on "glaciatas" (?)  can be colored.   (It can also occur
on plicatas, but there it is neither as noticeable nor as striking.)
Some glaciatas have been registered simply FOR this factor:
'Impossible' -- Wilma Vallette 1960.  Pale lemon ice opening from purple
buds; F. same color, deeper at haft; purple shows through when first
open.

This is sometimes referred to as the "celestar" pattern.  'Celestar' was
a white which exhibited this phenomenon.  I've seen pink glaciatas
opening from purple buds, and salmon pinks from brownish buds, and
believe me it can be a bit jarring.....

Also on the species level, somewhere along the line Juri Pirogov sent
pictures of I. aphylla found growing wild in Ukraine...and at least one
of them looked very much like what we would call "luminata-plicata"...

Questions are never completely answered; instead, more questions are
raised.

Keith Keppel

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index