HIST: Purple Germanica
- Subject: HIST: Purple Germanica
- From: J* a* C* W*
- Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 17:28:49 -0600
Hello, Everyone!
Two years ago at our iris show a member of our local iris society brought
in several stalks of unknown Historic irises in hopes that they could be
identified. The only one that was distinctive enough to put a name to was
QUAKER LADY (Farr, 1909). As I was not growing QL at the time I asked her
for a start of it, which she was glad to provide. When it came time to dig
and divide irises, however, she could not remember exactly which clump bore
the stalk identified as QL, so she gave me rhizomes from two different
clumps, one of which she felt must be the right one. As one of the rhizomes
I received has fans with pbf, and the other did not, I assumed the one with
pbf was QL and the other was something else, but I planted it anyway to see
what it would turn out to be. The clump with pbf did not bloom last year,
but will this year, and shows every sign of actually being QL. The other
clump bloomed last year and opened the first of its richly purple-toned
flowers for this year today. It agrees in every respect with Dykes'
description of the iris he designates as I. germanica nepalensis (The Genus
Iris, p. 163) with I. nepalensis, I germanica atropurpurea, and PURPLE KING
as synonyms. This includes the two diagnostic characteristics for
distinguishing I. g. nepalensis from I. kochii (stalk height and extent of
haft marks). The 1939 AIS Checklist prefers the name PURPLE KING for this
iris, listing thirteen other names as synonyms.
What has somewhat puzzled me is that none of the specific designations for
this form of Germanica seem to be in current use. I have had a request for
a referal to a source of I. g. nepalensis since I have assumed the position
of HIPS Commercial Source Chairman, but in looking through the catalogs and
garden inventories of nurseries growing and marketing Historic irises I
have only found I. germanica and I. germanica alba listed. Has this form of
germanica disappeared from commerce, or has it merely lost its name and is
not being distinguished from the common bitoned form of Germanica (Dykes'
I. germanica vulgaris)? I cannot conceive that an iris that is so well
attested in the literature and that appears to have all the durability and
will to survive that typifies the germanicas can in reality be at all
uncommon.
Does anyone have any insights to share, or an opinion on what is the
appropriate name by which to identify this distinctive form of I.
germanica?
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2, AHS Zone 7)
HIPS Commercial Source Chairman
jcwalters@bridgernet.com
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