HYB: odd characteristics

Following up on the Iris-photos discussion of SPIRIT OF FIJI and others--

There are a lot of inherited characteristics of bearded irises it would be fun
to follow--and include in registration data as an aid to identification.

PBF is an obvious one, but color trim or blush on spathes, stems downward from
spathes and sometimes whole bloomstalk with anthocyanin color do occur,
particularly in some plicata and luminata lines.  I am mindful not only of
some Sterling Innerst and Keith Keppel varieties.  Some of the older, much
used classics had some of this too.  CHIVALRY and some of its descendants had
remarkable color in spathes, stalks, and in one seedling batch I raised from
AUGUST ASTER and an Eva Smith seedling of quite complex pedigree even the leaf
on the first node of the bloomstalk was vivid purple.  Some others from the
cross had a similar character, although less vividly expressed.

Because of his interest in such things I shared this seedling with Gordon
Plough.  He sent it on to some equally interested folk in California.  The
seedling had a killer of a fault, however.  The stalks had a tendency to relax
into a prone position, not an attractive thing for a TB to do.

The trait appeared to be totally separate from PBF.

Another oddity I've noted is extraordinary fragrance from rhizomes as they
were being prepared for shipment.  There is a typical, low intensity scent
common to iris rhizomes that is faintly bitter, faintly acrid, but
occasionally one will have a heady, delightful spicey scent.  I've never heard
anyone else comment on noting this. I suppose it is rather rare.

Neil Mogensen  z 7  western NC mountains

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