Re: Iris lactea [was Siberian Email Robin]
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Iris lactea [was Siberian Email Robin]
- From: B* <a*@sympatico.ca>
- Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 20:10:05 -0700 (MST)
Clarence wrote:-
"I suspect, am fairly sure, that the "Iris ensata" mentioned in the book
you cite is the species now properly designated Iris lactea, which is
native to areas of Central Asia and eastward, including Ussuri region,
Mongolia, northern China...Also native to Tibet and northern India. It
had to be renamed "Iris lactea" when taxonomists determined that the
name "ensata" properly belonged to what we call the Japanese iris."
Clarence, I am confused over the naming. If lactea is well represented
by the place on page 77 of Glasgow's new book, then this is not the
species.
On the other hand, if the plates in Linnegar and Hewitt (opposite page
8), Innes (plate 95), and Dykes (plate 19) are considered, then we are
very close to the species. As ensata also occurs in the Ussuri region,
I would assume that the ensata identification is reasonable. I am
looking for a photo of a laevigata from Siberia that occured in
Currier's garden but, from memory, again the resemblance in structure
and colour are very similar.
If lactea now reflects the last three references, then I better start
from scratch and try to learn the species again!
Ian
avocet.intl@sympatico.ca
