Re: HIST: Purple King
Jeff writes...
>The one with all
>green leaves has bloomed, however, along with the IBs. The stalk is 19
>inches high and has 4 buds (two in the terminal and one in each of two
>somewhat elongated upright branches that grow close to the stalk). The
>flower form, pattern of haft venation, and beard color and shading appear
>identical to those in the photo of I. germanica on the HIPS website, but
>the flower color is a nearly uniform deep royal purple rather than the
>bitoned blue-violet of the typical germanica.
Conjecture -- but I believe the start of 'Purple King' is here:
Nepalensis, Wallich Cat 5050 in Lindl. Bot. Reg. tab. 818. 1824. B &
W illustration. (I. germanica)
This should be the 'uber variety,' from a time standpoint, of the
dark violet self germanicas in the trade under a multitude of names.
It was grown in the Cornell University Test Garden in the late teens
and was described by Austin W. W. Sand in his Thesis: 'A Study of the
Pogon Iris' presented Sept 1921. Description follows:
pg 200
NEPALENSIS
CLASS: Tall Bearded. INTRODUCER: --
ORIGINATION: Wild from Nepal, described by Wallich, 1824.
DESCRIPTION IN BRIEF:
A slightly veined self, S. dark violet, lavender reticulations, F.
Dark velvety violet to lighter at base of blade.
DESCRIPTION IN DETAIL:
Standard: Color-Dark violet, iridescent reticulations; Form-cupped,
over-arching; Shape-obovate, notched; Outline-undulate, ruffled,
frilled; Section-revolute; Surface-smooth, creped; Size of Segment-1
3/4 wide, 2 1/2" long.
Fall: Velvety, dark violet, reticulated brownish on lighter base of
blade and haft. Beard ends in a slight crest; Carriage-drooping;
Shape-wedge-shape; Section-conical; Blade-obcordate; texture-velvety;
Size-1 3/4" wide, 21/2" to 3" long.
Minor Parts: Beard-Coarse, dense, projecting, conspicuous white,
yellow tipped; Haft-broad, channeled; Reticulations-broad, broken,
widely spaced; Style-branches- whitish, broad, over-arching;
Crest-large, fringed; Pollen-plenty; Spathe Valves- 3/4 scarious,
inflated.
Growth: Vigorous, Rate of Increase-rapid; Habit-compact;
Foliage-stiff, broad; Color-glaucous, yellow green; Flowering
stalks-free, one open at once; Duration-fair; Stalk-angular, 2' high,
4-5 buds; Branching- fastigiate, below center, 2 branches.
PLANT AS A WHOLE: Good; Form-short, compact, rounded; Size-Good;
Substance-poor to good; Lasting quality-poor to good;
Texture-firm; Surface-smooth to creped; Fragrance-good;
USE: Clump, mass, cut-flower, garden, landscape.
SOIL: Heavy, Culture-field.
OU1TANDING QUALITIES: Good, early deep purple.
REMARKS: Parentage, Germanica (syn. atropurpurea) "I. germanica var.
Nepalensis".
Cheers,
Mike
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save 75% on Products!
Find incredible deals on overstocked items with Free shipping!
http://click.egroups.com/1/4013/0/_/486170/_/958951886/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
