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I would like to clarify because it was mentioned here and not for the first time - the case of Iris setosa, which is different from Iris hookeri (syn. Iris setosa var. canadensis for those who don't accept I. hookeri).These NA Irises are mixed up in the trades, seedex, etc.... to the point of no return probably. Certainly not using the proper names has contributed to this situation. They are distinct though:
Thanks for these photos Gabriela. For slow learners like me could you please elaborate on the key differences?I admired them greatly in Newfoundland and southern Labrador but never got around to differentiating reliably
I am a bit confused now, also. I grew this from wild Iris setosa seed from the Kenai pennisula, Alaska.
It is very probably that you admired Iris hookeri - when not in flower is not very easy to tell apart, but there are differences:see in Flora of North America http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101705When in flower - 1-2 flowers/stem (I. setosa 2-3) and petals "much reduced to insignificant, involute or tubular rudiments, 1–2 cm, apex with short bristle".There are other details as well, true that my pictures don't show enough.
For example, reply#5 above shows I. hookeri mostly with branched stems, inconsistent with the Flora of North America description
However is this Iris setosa, growing near St. Johns? I. versicolor?
Regarding the standards apparent on some setosa, I suspect there is hybridising going on that is yet not fully recognised. Certainly it crosses with both versicolor and ensata, the large Japanese irises, in the wild. There are some advantages to getting quite old. In many instances what seemed wildly important a while back, now seems not to matter at all!
Certainly it crosses with both versicolor and ensata, the large Japanese irises, in the wild.