RE: AIS-Registration of Cultivars:Why, and Why Care?

Anner: Very well put.  That should claify any questions our 'new' =
irisarians might have.  Sara Marley, Hillsboro, Va. just east of the =
Blue Ridge Mtns, and due south of Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

----------
From: 	Henryanner[SMTP:Henryanner@aol.com]
Sent: 	Monday, March 23, 1998 6:35 AM
To: 	Multiple recipients of list
Subject: 	AIS-Registration of Cultivars:Why, and Why Care?

In a message dated 98-03-23 12:24:03 EST, you write:

<<  Is the only acknowledged registry for irises the AIS?...If I =
happened to
be from any other part of the world, would it be necessary to register =
my cvs
with a US organization to have them accepted?  >>

My understanding is 'yes'. The American Iris Society is the recognized
INTERNATIONAL registering agency for the genus Iris.There are other
international registrars for other plants. I believe the RHS handles the =
genus
Lilium, for instance.

The process of registration of an iris, or any other plant, is a =
critically
important activity which ensures that names and plant descriptions are
recorded in consistent forms. The overall purpose is to ensure that the =
plant
and its name is described, documented, and published according to the
scientific criteria of the International Code of Botanical =
Nomenclature--for
species--or the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated =
Plants-- for
man-made hybrids or plants used in horticulture, forestry, agriculture =
and so
forth. Thus the process of registration, while is benefits the gardener, =
is
actually a scientific activity, the scientific activity of recording the
existance and the name of a new plant, or a newly discovered plant, and
scrupulous rules exist to keep order in nomenclature where otherwise =
there
might be utter chaos and no possibility of communication among =
scientists, or
other interested parties.

We as gardeners see only one aspect of the registration process, but it
behooves us to recall at all times that the responsibility that AIS =
bears in
this role of international registrar is critically important. When we =
see
someone offering to sell us unregistered plants we should realize that =
these
people do not support the international system that effects precise
communication and accurate scientific descriptions.This says a lot.

Now, very occasionally you will find a reputable nursery selling, as a
curiosity, an unregistered plant from a dead famous hybridizer. These
instances are the exception and should cause no alarm because the =
situation is
clearly stated. But when someone persists in selling something for which =
there
is no recorded official description which stands as a measure of the =
plant,
well, you have to ask yourself if they just don't care, or whether they =
are
trying to create a legal ambiguity which they may then proceed to =
exploit as
necessary.

Having a registered name will not ensure that the plant will survive. =
Not
having a registered name will not guarantee it will die. But only when =
you
have a name recognized and registered by AIS, do you have an iris with =
any
name at all.=20

Anner Whitehead, Richmond,VA
Henry Hall  henryanner@aol.com =20
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