Re: HIS: VISHNU
- Subject: Re: [iris] HIS: VISHNU
- From: "Jeff and Carolyn Walters" j*@bridgernet.com
- Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 09:38:34 -0700
- List-archive: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris/> (Web Archive)
> From: Donald Eaves <donald@eastland.net>
> In the new ROOTS issue, Sturtevant's 1920 introduction of VISHNU is
given
> as being derived from a cross of Speciosa X junonia. I'm assuming this
is
> the same as I. junonia which is listed as a type of border bearded size
> species in the WOI and Kohlein's iris. The latter makes reference to the
> possibility it might be the same as I. mesopotamica. The origin of
junonia
> is given as Turkey.
Donald,
I. junonia was described botanically in 1854. The type location is
identified in both Dykes' The Genus Iris and the 1939 AIS Checklist as the
Cilician Taurus, which is the region of Anatolian Turkey directly north of
the north-east corner of the Mediterranean Sea. Dykes makes it clear that
junonia is distinct from mesopotamica, but observes that by his time much
of the stock labeled junonia that was circulating in Europe was really
mesopotamica or cypriana, which caused a lot of confusion and led some
authorities to discount junonia as a valid name. He gives the stalk height
of junonia as 20-24", which is considerably shorter than mesopotamica or
cypriana, which have stalks at least 36" high.
There are several irises named "Speciosa" listed in the 1939 AIS Checklist,
but it is clear from the entries that the one that is listed as the pod
parent of VISHNU is the one identified as "old French variety before 1830"
offered for sale under that name by Lemon in 1839.
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2, AHS Zone 7)
HIPS Commercial Source Chairman
jcwalters@bridgernet.com
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