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Re: Iris seeds

Yes, most iris can be propagated by seed, but they may not come true to the
parent if you are working with one of the hybrids.  The species iris should
come true.  Just off hand, I can't think of any of the common bulbs
(narcissus, Galanthus, scilla, crocus, tulips, etc.) that *don't* set seed
if the flowers are fertilized and you don't dead head.

Generally, if a plant flowers and it's not a cross that's created a "mule",
it will set seed if the flowers are pollinated.

Seedpods of varying size and shape, depending on the plant, form where the
flower was.  In some, you can see the swelling that will become the seed
pod just behind the flower while the flower is blooming.  Not all plants
produce a "pod", but most of the bulbous ones do.  The minor bulbs will
seed around like crazy and naturalize;  so will members of the narcissus
family (daffodils, etc.).  

In addition to setting viable seed, many bulbous plants (true bulbs, corms
and tubers --some include plants with rhizomes in this lot ) produce
offsets underground and some (like lilies) bulbils along the stems that can
be planted to produce more plants -- you can also propagate lilies by
removing the scales from the bulb and planting the scales.  

Plants are basically interested in survival of their species and
*everything* they do is fixated on that one end.  If they're lucky enough
to be able to produce offsets AND seeds, they sure will do it! 

Keep in mind that, for the most part, seeds are a sexual method of
reproduction; the pollen from one plant fertilizes another plant that will
make the seeds, and like animals, the offspring will combine attributes of
both parents.  (There are some plants that are self-fertile and don't need
two separate plants for pollination.)  Bulb offsets are going to be clones
of the parent plant, so if you want an *identical* plant to the parent,
propagation by the offsets; by division, stem, leaf or root cuttings is the
way to go.

If you're curious about seeds or interested in propagation, I highly
recommend a visit to Amber Hearn's web site.  In addition to her online
nursery catalog, she has written a series of articles on propagation, via
both seeds and cuttings, that I find invaluable.  She also provides
information on where to buy seeds and links to further information on seeds
and other good stuff.  URL is:  

http://wcn.simplenet.com/articles/artindex.htm

I also recommend a trip to Tom Clothier's web site.  He has also got a
tremendous amount of good information on all aspects of collecting and
growing seed as well as a seed germination database, essays and other good
info.   Don't miss his very comprehensive list of "weeds", many linked to
photos -- it's on his reference page.  URL is:

http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes/index.htm

I haven't grown I. setosa, but I've read on other lists that it is fairly
trouble free and comes in a wide variety of forms.  It is native to N.
America, E. Russia and Japan.  I think germination information can be found
in Tom's Germination database.

Rodney Barton maintains a web page on North American Native Iris and this
URL will take you to the page showing a nice photo of I. setosa as well as
the distribution map for it :

http://molly.hsc.unt.edu/~rbarton/Iris/I_setosa.html

Hope this helps!

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: corkinb <corkinb@hiwaay.net>
> To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Iris seeds
> Date: Saturday, January 31, 1998 9:26 PM
> 
> I found seeds for iris in the store. I thought Iris was propagated from
> bulbs.
>  If the seeds are a way of propagating where in the plabt are they to be
> found when it goes to seed? Also, are there a lot of bulb plants that
> can also put out seeds? I always thought it was one way or the other.
> Guess not.
>  The particular plant is called iris setosa.
>  Thanks for any help with these.
>
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