Oncos in Flower...

[Hans A.]

The first one started to flower today in my garden - Iris kirkwoodii ssp. calcarea.
Second foto taken one day later at 24th of february.

[art600]

Beautiful

[Hans A.]

Thanks Arthur - this species is very variable - and I hope I will be able to show some more later on.
Very interesting is also the foto of biodiversite (thread Aril Society) - when you compare it with the superb pictures of the actual BIS Bulletin -  it is easy to find it similar to the fotos of  I.kirkwoodii ssp. kirkwoodii var. macropetala.

[biodiversite]

Here is the link http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1250.0 .
Please could you explain how to differenciate the different ssp ?
Moreover I ordered in Germany ssp. calcarea last year : what are his particularities ?

[Hans A.]

@biodiversite - I.kirkwoodii has two ssp. and one var.

I.k.ssp.calcarea normally has slightly bluish standards, vains tend to violet - it is distributed in the area of San Simeon /Syria
I.k. ssp. kirkwoodii var. macropetala has white Standards lack blue vained mor brrown and the flower is larger (diameter 20 cm - Falls 10cm long) this var. should grow in the surroundings of El Bara/ Syria
I. k. ssp. kirkwoodii which have flowered here lack the bluish standards and violet vains (Turkish origin).
To make it a bit more difficult:
Some seedlings (Archibald seed) have to flower still - this should be a I. k.ssp. k - this one is bluish

Unfortunally i have never been in Syria or Turkey to study this treasures in their natural habitat.

[Hans A.]

To complete the list here a dark form of Iris kirkwoodii ssp. kirkwoodii. (picture of 2007)

[biodiversite]

ouah  ! If you want to swap a rhizome with one of my strain this summer, it's without problem 

[Hans A.]

Why not. - but even about a few seeds of your beautyful strain i would be very glad.

[Hans A.]

Another Oncospecies started to bloom here in Spain: Iris paradoxa - it never has been so early

[Hans A.]

Not as spectacular as Rafas I. afghanica - but also fine: Iris sari

[Armin]

Hans,
they are realy beauties!
I. paradoxa is exiting to me.

[David Nicholson]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!-if only I could grow them

[Rafa]

Hans I think we have to do an Aril Iris Picture Championship

So you e-mailed me Iris kirkwoodii ssp. kirkwoodii? It was too soon to see in bloom your Iris susiana...
It comes to a point that they all look the same to me!!

[Hans A.]

Hans I think we have to do an Aril Iris Picture Championship
So you e-mailed me Iris kirkwoodii ssp. kirkwoodii? It was too soon to see in bloom your Iris susiana...
It comes to a point that they all look the same to me!!

  - lets see what will flower here the next time -

Rafa, to tell the true - I do not know what it is on the foto I send you -  it could be near I.sofarana or a hybrid - the flowers are large and differ in shape of I.kirkwoodii I grow.
Some Opinions?

[Paul T]

Spectacular!!  What a flower!!!!!!!    That beautiful "fan" appearance of the standards, and the glrious markings all over.  Wow, just doesn't do it justice!!