The Genus Iris

["Robert Pries " <101p@rewrite.aisboard.org>]

What if someone walked into your garden and told you that all the Iris you
were growing were no longer in the Genus Iris? There are a small group of
botanists who would like to do just that. (M.B.Crespo, Mart.-AzorC-n &
Mavrodiev, Phytotaxa 232: 54 (2015).) They would split The genus Iris into 25
genera. Fortunately their efforts have not been generally accepted. But
botanists are more concerned with explaining evolution with their names than
actually caring what gardeners might consider to be practical. Who knows if
someday The genus Iris may be considered a tiny group of species relegating
all those we know and love to multiple genera. So our mission statement
promoting the Genus Iris needs clarification. I would propose that we define
what horticulturally are Irises. I will propose the following motion during
Wednesday's teleconference.
The American Iris Society is concerned with Irises as t he Genus Iris i s
known in the line of thought exemplified by Dykes' Monograph, AIS checklists,
Mathewbs The Genus Iris, The British Iris Societybs Guide to Species
Irises and Goldblatt and Manningbs The Iris Family (2008).
Botanical synonyms can be listed and noted as to acceptance by the World
Checklist, but horticulturally we will continue to use the name Iris for
Irises.

--

Bob Pries
Zone 7a
Roxboro, NC
(336)597-8805

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