Re: HIST: "Cuba" and the Confirmation of Identity

From: waddie <waddie@slip.net>

Thanx Anner,

I am a member of HIPS.  I gues now it is a waiting game.  I will be in touch when
there is more to discuss.

waddie

HIPSource@aol.com wrote:

> From: HIPSource@aol.com
>
> In a message dated 11/10/99 9:35:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, waddie@slip.net
> writes:
>
> <<  The lady that gave me Cube says that it's definitely *not* Cuba Libre.
> She
>  says it's " bi-color blue purple".  Does this sound like the original Cuba?>>
>
> Let us look at the situation a bit more closely.
>
> The full Check List entry on this iris is:
> *CUBA . DB-B3L (Sheets. N.); R., 1931; (SCHNEEKUPPE X VERDUN)
>
> It tells us that the iris in question was a Dwarf, and that it was a light
> blue toned bicolor or bitone without a pronounced red cast.The parents as
> listed are a white dwarf and a deep blue dwarf, so there is no compelling
> reason to doubt the description. It also tells us that the iris was
> registered in 1931 by Earl Wooddell Sheets of Washington, D.C.,  who issued
> catalogs in 1928 and 1929 and died in 1935. The asterix indicates that in
> 1939 the "variety" was "obsolete".
>
> The term "obsolete" means (AISCL39, p. 3) that the iris was "not listed any
> more in catalogs", which does not necessarily mean extinct. This status is
> not surprizing since CUBA was "registered" but never "introduced," which
> means introduced into commerce. That is what the "N" means after Sheets name
> in the entry. The 1949 Check List reiterates this obsolete status, and does
> not show the name having been given to another later iris, which has also
> been known to happen.
>
> And this extrapolation presupposes that all the info in the Check List is
> complete and correct.
>
> CUBA's not having been introduced also means that no contemporary catalog
> descriptions are likely be found to note defining traits of the plant, which
> would also make identification difficult. Possibly there might be some
> mention in the earlier AIS Bulletins or other documents, which would involve
> someone digging through them.
>
> I'd personally say it was a long shot that this is CUBA. Not impossible, for
> Sheets might have sent a start to someone for evaluation at some point, but a
> long shot.
>
> The first thing you should do is look at the plant and if it is not a
> dwarf--- which could conceivably mean something a bit larger than what we
> mean by the term today but certainly something considerably smaller than a
> TB--then the question is settled.
>
> If it is "dwarf "and blooms something that could conceivably be called light
> blue then further examination may be possible, although it is unlikely that
> even if this is real that a firm identification can be made since the only
> way this generally happens is by side by side comparison of the mystery plant
> and a named plant of undisputed provenance. That is, it matches in all
> details one that has been grown under its own name for many years and can be
> traced back to the original introducer.
>
> If it meets both size and color tests it may be useful to pursue the matter
> further.
>
> As a benefit of membership, the Historic Iris Preservation Society offers the
> assistance of our ID Chairman in these matters. The usual procedure is that
> the member grows the iris in question and at bloom time compiles a full and
> detailed description of the plant and all its parts, including what is known
> of the actual history of the individual clone in question, and a set of
> photos shot according to the formula on the HIPS page. This is sent to the ID
> Chairman who examines it all and gives the matter thought. Sometimes the iris
> in question is something he has seen so many times before he can ID it right
> off the bat. Sometimes requests a rhizome to be sent to him to be grown on
> for comparison if he thinks it will shed light on the matter. Then in the
> fullness of time, and these things can take a good deal of time, some answers
> may come. He may be able to make a tentative identification, or offer some
> impressions as to probable origins and dates, or tell you what your iris is
> not. The more distinctive the plant the easier it is to do all this.
>
> Blue and purple bitones are typically difficult to ID since there are so many
> of them.
>
> Everyone enjoys speculating about unknowns and HIPS does not wish to spoil
> anyone's fun, or harp about this but we really feel it is best to be very
> conservative about assigning firm names to unknowns. You see, we spend a lot
> of time cleaning up messes and confusion caused by iris names having gotten
> screwed up somewhere along the line.
>
> Information on the mission of HIPS and the many benefits of HIPS membership,
> which costs five dollars a year, is found on the HIPS page at:
> http://www.worldiris.com.
>
> Anner Whitehead
> Commercial Source Chairman
> Historic Iris Preservation Society
> HIPSource@aol.com
>
> 

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