Re: Subject: Re: SDB, MDB: 4 petal blossoms

Seems to me that the 4 (or 5, 6, or even 7) petal blossoms tend to occur 
most often on cultivars that are dwarf or have dwarf ancestry (as in a lot 
of IB's).  I'm not sure if I've ever seen it in a diploid bearded Iris or 
a beardless Iris (though I'm sure if might occur), only occasionally in a 
BB, and rarely in TB's.  I have a purple broken patterned Iris that does 
it routinely here and there, it is either a BB or a TB that likes to be 
short.  I have several SDB's that do this routinely.  Used to have one 
that made only flowers with parts in 4's, but it had the wrong name on it, 
and I never learned the correct name.  That one died out when some Blue 
Grass took over and I didn't notice in time.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a common genetic thread between most 
of these.  It could be that they have a common ancestor that possessed the 
trait, or perhaps interaction of one of the dwarf species genetics with TB 
genetics causes it.  It would be fun to research it more and see if any 
patterns emerge.

I just photographed a light blue IB (or perhaps it is a big SDB) flower a 
few days ago that had 7 falls and 8 standards.  A few of the standards and 
one fall were a bit stunted.  It was quite the bizarre flower.  From 
looking at the bud you would never have guessed, though it was a bit 
fatter than the others.  All the other flowers (perhaps 40 or 50) were 
normal.  It flowered so late because it was shipped in from somewhere 
further north (I actually bought it at Home Depot with the wrong name on 
it, but I liked it anyway).

Dave
central NM

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