Iris reticulata and forms 2008

[Jim McKenney]

All of these beautiful reticulate irises are raising expectations for the reticulate season here.

Here’s an image of a plant I have grown as Iris ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ since 2002. Does it appear to be true to name? To my eyes it looks like an Iris histrioides hybrid, yet the name ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ has been used for a form of Iris histrioides itself, hasn’t it?
Whatever it is, it’s a good doer here, and I’m glad to have it.

What say the experts: is my plant true to name? 

[art600]

Dirk

Hope I see something as good as that Iranian 'new' species on my trip this year.

'Snowwhite' is so much nicer than 'Natascha' - hopefully it will be a lot stronger.

[Hans A.]

Wow - which beauties are shown in this thread - I think I should give this small treasures some more space in my small garden...

@arthur, whish you good luck im Iran and hope to see some of your (suberb) fotos of this trip in the forum.

[udo]

Jim,
your plant is possibly true the name.
Lady Beatrix Stanley is a fertile selection from histrioides,
crosses with histrioides ( Harmony, George) are steril.

[Armin]

Dirk, big iris show!

[Jim McKenney]

Thanks, Dirk, that is reassuring.

Many years ago (35-40 years) I grew the plant then in commerce under the name Iris histrioides 'Major'. I have slides of this, although I have no way of digitizing them and posting the images to this forum. It seems to me that the plant(s) making the rounds now under that name are slightly different. How do others feel about this?

Here's something else of interest: those long-ago plants of Iris histrioides 'Major' set seemingly normal seed when pollinated by commercial Iris danfordiae, and Iris danfordiae set seed from the pollen of Iris histrioides 'Major'. I never attempted to germinate the seed, but it looked normal and the capsules were bursting with seed.  

I mention this because some have questioned the parentage of Iris 'Katharine Hogdkin', some saying the yellow parent was I. winogradowii and others saying I. danfordiae.  Those who claim I. winogradowii as the parent dismiss I. danfordiae with the claim that the commercial form(s) is/are "sterile triploid/s" .

But if Iris histrioides 'Major' is tetraploid, it would be able to fertilize triploid I. danfordiae.

By the way, is it Katharine Hodgkin or Katherine Hodgkin?

Here in Maryland, only a few reticulate iris leaves are above ground so far. It was above 60º F (~15º C) at 8:30 A.M. this morning. Colder weather is on the way.

Thanks for showing your irises, Dirk: unglaublich schön ist das Irisbeet.

[Maggi Young]

I believe Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' to be her  correct name

[johanneshoeller]

Iris K.H and Frank Elder. Can you see any difference?
Hans

[David Shaw]

Frank Elder is the top picture and Katharine Hodgkin is the lower one. I am making this descision because both are presented side by side. I probably would not attempt to name one presented on its own.
Of the two I think Frank is a paler, more washed out iris than the much cheaper and more readily available Katharine, but that is a personal opinion.

[David Nicholson]

Hans, see on this thread reply172 of February 8 (Arthur Nicholls) and reply 174 also Feb 8 (Luit van Delft),
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1194.165
 and then

[udo]

a other unknown form from Iran,
not the species reticulata,
this flower standing of a stem, like pamphylica or kolpakowsiana

[art600]

Dirk

I think I like this one better than the others you have shown.  So elegant and wonderful colours

[Armin]

Dirk, wow

[David Nicholson]

That's a cracker

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You've got us all droolin again Dirk !