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Brothers and Sisters. Its in the genes.

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Many of us grow the I histrioides type of reticulated iris. Over the last few years that has also included me.
At the weekend I bought Frank Elder and it was commented on how alike it was to Katherine Hodgkin and Shelia Anne Germany so I thought I’d put them side by side in a blog to show the subtleties of the markings.

Frank Elder ; notice the slight ‘bleeding’ of the yellow markings

Shelia Ann Germany; crisp yellow markings.

Katherine Hodgkin; A semi circle of yellow too down from the central yellow stripe.
With Frank Elder below for comparison.


Now they clearly have the same parentage and aren’t they lovely.

Hope this is of interest.

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Comments

 

Thanks .. that's very interesting :o)

20 Feb, 2014

 

Hi, I agree, very interesting, Derek.

20 Feb, 2014

 

Fascinating! And such beautiful markings, too.

20 Feb, 2014

 

It's very obvious now thanks to you SBG. I'm hoping you are able to answer an Iris poser.
I read the other day that the difference between I. histriodes and I. reticulata was that I. reticulata has those longer grass like leaves. Is that true?

20 Feb, 2014

 

They really are lovely as well...

20 Feb, 2014

 

according to the RHS book they both have square sectioned leaves1-10cm long, though histrioides may produce 2 flowers were reticulata only has 1. Both are classed as reticulated ie the fibrous coat .
other wise that is all I can glean.
Hopefully someone else can shed more light on it.

20 Feb, 2014

 

Thanks SBG, I found the same info but had read Re foliage on a blog (not GOY).

20 Feb, 2014

 

Lovely Irises you have there! They are sufficiently alike to be easily confused. Only an expert or someone like you who has them & has pictures of them could tell them apart!

20 Feb, 2014

 

All lovely - I think Frank elder wins though

20 Feb, 2014

 

my fav is actually Lady Beatrix Stanley. She is a rich deep blue flower and so unlike these three.

20 Feb, 2014

 

Well, it certainly helped me and I've faved this blog for future reference.
Thanks Seaburn!

21 Feb, 2014

 

That's interesting. Such slight differences, but each one a lovely flower in it's own right :o)

21 Feb, 2014

 

According to one of my books the 3 pale ones are probably a cross between I histrioides and I danfordiae due to the yellow hues in the flower.

22 Feb, 2014

 

I don't know Frank - I must keep an eye open for him in the autumn! :-)

I still like Lady Beatrix best as well - where does she fit in, Sbg?

27 Feb, 2014

 

she and Major are Histiriodes but 'probably' crossed with reticulata also a reticulated iris.
so cousins I suppose.

I do wish the reticulated group just had reticulata in it and not other gerenra, but hey who am I to argue :o))

27 Feb, 2014

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