Oncos 2009

[arillady]

Yesterday the supposed Iris susiana arrived in the post from the lady in the South East of South Australia.
As you can see it does not look like an onco to me - but I do wonder what it might be.

[arillady]

Simon lovely angle of your photo - so symetrical and great form

[Lesley Cox]

Yours may not even be an iris Pat! But perhaps something like 'Gerald Darby' or 'Holden Clough.' Not susiana.

[Rafa]

I think it is Spuriae species...

[arillady]

I have planted the "Rowley iris" into a gravel bed so I will wait and observe.
Pity it was not Iris susiana but I did have my doubts as the South East of South Australia is a lot wetter than here.

[Paul T]

Simon,

Your unknown (possibly 'Orion') is a beautiful form and colour.  Thanks for showing us.

Pat,

I'm with Lesley..... are you even sure it is an Iris?   Spuria is about all I could think of, but even that doesn't look right.  Looks to be a very heavily spreading type judging by the rhizomes, but they don't look to me like spuria rhizomes either?  Good luck, whatever it is.  Maybe they just got susiana and spuria mixed up?  They're "sort of" similar names. 

[arillady]

Yes I did have that thought Paul - that susiana and spuria are slightly similar both start and finished with the same letter!
Pat
It is the waiting game now.

[Paul T]

the u and the i, both sounding the same in the name, also probably add to the possibilities.  Keep us posted on how it goes.

[Sinchets]

Thanks- it was a beauty, but the rain finished the flower 
Another I.stolonifera (I think) for today.

[Sinchets]

Flowering today- one of the first Irises of this type I ever bought- maybe 10 years ago- Iris 'Vera'

[Paul T]

Fascinating colour combination, Simon.  Strange, but works very well.  Would fit well in my collection of strange and unusual things. 

[Sinchets]

Thanks, Paul. Your collection sounds very much like mine.

[Boyed]

Onco iris season has ended in many places, but here in our area because of late spring it has just started.

I know that what I am going to show, will interest many of you, as this onco iris is not spread culture - iris grossheimii, which impressed me a lot. A very rare even in its locality. It somewhat resemles iris acutiloba, but in difference to it has rounded petals.

[Maggi Young]

Zhirair, thank you for introducing us to this lovely Iris grossheimii and for showing the similar I. acutiloba to compare.
 Very pretty rarity. Is the height about 25 to 30 cms?

[Boyed]

Maggi,
you're right; the height is about 25-30 cm, but it can be taller as well depending on year and the climate.