AR: Different Forms

Steve Rocha wrote:

: I was wondering why Arils vary so much in size / shape. 

The aril species themselves vary greatly in size and shape, as well as patterns
and colors.  A dissertation covering all the variations would get me kicked off
the list for excessive verbiage. 

 MDBs, SBs, IBs, BBs, MTBs, and TBs are all bearded iris -- another case of
diversity.  

Arilbreds, because they descended from both of these diverse groups, show an
even greater variation.  They range in size from tiny to gigantic and in season
from the beginning of MDB bloom to the early TB season. 

:  ALLADIN'S TREASURE has huge standards and is quite large. 

I don't grow it myself, but it was registered as a quarterbred with unknown
pollen parent.  From it's description, I'd guess there's a possibility it's
really a halfbred but didn't have the pedigree to justify the registration.
Either way, I'd expect it to be the tallest of the three.

:  MANSIONS OF LIGHT 
:  looks like a tall bearded

It shouldn't.  It's a near-aril, with foliage quite unlike that of TBs.  It has
white standards, yellow falls, prominent yellow style arms, a rust beard
surrounded by some rust dotting -- and a near globular form.

:   IN TOTO looks like a MDB.

Not surprising, as it's a quarterbred with a median parent.

:   What's up with 
:  Arils?? They are beautiful flowers but I was under the impression that they 
:  were shaped more like ALLADIN'S TREASURE.

All three of these are arilbreds, not arils.  Judging from orders I've processed
over the years, the most popular form is globular -- but other tailored, rounded
forms are also in demand.  The key word for arils and arilbreds is diversity.
If you buy some new TBs, you expect something different in the color and pattern
of the flower, but the size and shape to be pretty standard.  You can't make
such assumptions when dealing with arils and arilbreds.  They differ so much
that they are even registered with special codes that provide some indication of
what to expect.

Sharon McAllister
73372.1745@compuserve.com
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