RE: CULT: Sports--anyone?
From: Mike Lowe <mlowe@worldiris.com>
Jan asks...
>I wonder if anyone can quote any instances where a sport has reverted back
>(or sported to) the original variety?
Kaleidoscope (Katkamier 1929) is the most labile bearded cultivar
that I have ever grown. In my garden, I have lost the dark sectors
and had the erstwhile Kaleido go to something closely resembling
Brown's Mutant. I have also received, from at least one respected
commercial garden, a Kaleidoscope which had obviously done this and
not been noticed. I have had Kaleidoscope go to something closely
resembling Honorabile. (but not as dark as the 'usual' Honorabile)
Judging an 'Honorabile' on the show bench is a nightmare. I have
seldom heard a judge state, "that is a GOOD Honorabile!" which can be
loosely translated to 'this Honorabile does not closely resemble the
cultivar that I grow as Honorabile.'
On a trip to New England, combining genealogy with documenting iris
used as cemetery decoration, I was blown away by the stalk height
and flower brilliance of the various Honorabiles found. I obtained a
start of one of these 'too tall' Honorabilies and in Virginia the
stalk height and flower color of the 'New England' cultivar reverted
to the average of what I grow as Honorabile.
Check out the various Honorabile sports on the HIPS webpage (under
ROOTS articles) All of the sports will occasionally revert to a color
form closely resembling the original stock, Kaleidoscope showing the
greatest tendency for this.
Cheers,
Mike, mlowe@worldiris.com -- http://www.worldiris.com
South Central Virginia, USA; USDA Zone 7A where Cyanea (Goos &
Koenemann 1899) is in full spate and, in nearby Petersburg, a 20'
border (sheltered, south facing) of Moonlight (Dykes 1923) is at peak
bloom.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DON'T HATE YOUR RATE!
Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as
0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees.
Apply NOW!
http://click.egroups.com/1/2120/0/_/486170/_/954247013/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
