Re: Louisana & white iris
- To: i*@onelist.com
- Subject: Re: Louisana & white iris
- From: J* I* J* <j*@ix.netcom.com>
- Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 18:02:42 -0700
From: John I Jones <jijones@ix.netcom.com>
Glenn Simmons wrote:
>
> From: Glenn Simmons <glsimmon@swbell.net>
>
> Linda (wife) is very partial to totally white irises, no color except
> white. Linda has had Jurisprudence, Cut Crystal and Wings of Doves.
> All of these have faded out, died or disappeared in our beds. No
> reproduction, no babies of any kind. Linda has replaced them several
> times and each time she has lost them over time.
>
> Several months ago during a discussion of white iris Linda was told that
> a pure white iris (albino) will bloom out and end up dying. Linda would
> like to know if this is true. If it is she will stop looking for and
> buying totally white iris. :)
>
> Does anyone have any information on this? Any comments?
There are albino irises, and yes they do die off very quickly *BUT* an albino
is defined as an iris with no chlorophyl, not an iris with white flowers. The
leaves of an albino would be white (no chlorophyl) and without the ability to
generate food from sunlight (and soil nutrients) for the mother rhizome to
make increases. So it dies out, would never be introduced.
Irises with white flowers are a different story. Green leaves mean chlorophyl
and they can increase etc. White flowers come in two basic forms. The first,
referred to as glaciatas, have inhibitors that repress the expression of color.
The other form are flowers that lack color pigment. I do not remember if they
are given a special name. Anybody know? Anyway they just lack color
pigmentation.
There are lots of great whites on the market. Bill Maryott has a '97 named
TOUCHED BY ANGELS heavily ruffled absolutely pure white with white beards, no
evidence of any color other than white and Arctic Express (Gatty '96) heavily
budded and branched white with broad form and ruffles.
No as to why Linda keeps losing white irises, I think we have to look to other
causes. Does she always grow them in the same place? Have irises been growing
there for a long time. Are they getting enough sun? and so forth.
John | "There be dragons here"
| Annotation used by ancient cartographers
| to indicate the edge of the known world.
John Jones
To reply to me personally click on
/*@ix.netcom.com
Fremont, California, USA, Earth, USDA zone 8/9 (coastal, bay)
Max high 95F/35C, Min Low 28F/-2C average 10 days each
Heavy clay base for my raised beds.
There are currently 83 Iris pictures on my Website. Visit me at:
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