SIGNA OFSPECIES NORTH I RIS GROUP . AME.RICA SIGNA SIP-'e.CJ.E.'S ll.R].S 6iROUI?' o;.c NORlrlH Ail'fiERI CA f",a;J:.]. ,i · ~. ~ N'un~lber 4lil5 OFFICERS & EXECUTI VES CHA!Ra--t:AN:: Col.in ffiqliJf:'.::I! 2087 Curtis BIi-·. ?eirn1!1i3.nr«JJWe:o'J) CA 9 ~951 V'ICE-CHA IRll"fAt~: Lee IWJelsr.-1: 7979 loJJ • .D 1,,.ve. ~(al a ma:zoo, MI 490 09 SECREIA RY: Fior."emHce Stoitn'ti" 15'3' 11-Jl. 111aii.n Sit.. l.om,lba-.ll"<di,, IL 6,0148 TREASURER: Rober t f!lries 6623 Ar:t't i r e Rd. Hi911h, llb«ilgie~ ll'liO 6:I®'il9 SEEn EXCHANGE:: IPhoeltre COi?Jl.~1 5 428 Ma.nrooe:::lk Sit. IL.OJ.nis 'J! NO 63109 ~ :n n N D IRECTOR::: Dort 1Hujsa1I!" 32.2:7. So. F u l tcnru A'~- lriu1Jisa1. .,; om- 74135 SLI !l}ES CHAIP.11'1i.4%l•~i:: IHle:].91a A,mi«:lil!"telW<.s li.l l'li.aqp,].e lnv e . · Su11t!llt1l.1.mr~'IJ ll'Mi 0 1 7 76 PUB!LI ClffIOINIS SA.iLE:Si: A.li..ai.m ll'llcl"lltu1.r1tr :ii.e 22 Ca].d:elronrn Cire:scetrn1tw ~illo.uia:llale, Vl!'llt:ari(CD,-: Ca\111\a..af.a:: 111i:21i( ~ S I GN:A EIHTO~: J!oom, 0:m?e,r . 212 t-.L!. Cornn't'y Roavrl C ~il le~ tl~N 55113 PAST PRESIIDEJt\IT :: Elai !Tlle Hullmert- IR?1ov.11.tt:e 3r E'ox 57 Fl°-£1.di -.c \!JA. 2 4091 AJDV].SOR'.Y BOA\IRJD):: !?.... ILe!R:01:YJ D.a,.vid5.oni;; Jream: l,H tt;; Br1tu<ee R:ii.clh,arc::!fsom CONTENTS Fall~ 199e-Nom 45 Ctl-fA. l R~A!'I'~" S !"!ESS.~6£ Col in R:ii.gb-:!:11 16 21 Slr6l"il'\ Pf:i£S,8\flfS TIHIE ] :IR'JJ:S IIJJAl"lll::IR:CQiL..Oll?S. OF JEA.N: ~ I TT li,622 & faci!1J·3: page 16 22 !RII.S PA!1UENSIS: A NEUJJ A.lliEiRICNlli S.PiEC]E S .James Wla.dld!:ii. ell: 1623 P-'S8.IID:Q.f'.JE:Sa.. ]:'1\ iNE~JS: Jia1m:es U,lja'!flaf.ii.clk 1626 LO'~~UN6 IFQ,R :n: ~ IP'A.!Pfn:EJN:SI.Si ]:L!i l9'i AH J3. Lei?.loi-:i: Davi dismr:rr, 1628 SPECIES P.•.QiPl!t..... AIRI1'1f lfl'QLJL Jkr1b IP'll--ies 162 9 1 Q.~.JIR REAl}EG;S WJRllllE .Jean Wi t-1t ,. Ja,ae-s IW'ia1.«:!ia:l id·[ 16 30 l!t'i01~1 ID;ai~·i dlsiolm: H:x32,, t...:on i q11.112 lkwiats-{1'~11.cesme ]. 16 33 li,,.'+fER.E. CAN WE F I N:D IT ID>EPARTM'Ef\.'T Salm: G'°rris. 1631 FE.A.'i.fflFUL NE~ JlYJJ{!1.~ l!.1>.'!= N{fillKIT9.lliM-\T:A. :& .. ILeRO!YJ Dia.vidsor.: 1634 IRIS KI5.S(l;l!JJllUDiS15 "C.f,~'llAS, :B,tL.19.E..,, l'i,. ILeRO.:!:!l ll>a'1il·i«:lfs.(0H;1, 1635 O.iN: E A.THiG. lF.tIS:ES. :B... ILeROI.:£ l))aiv:ii u:tisinm: 1635 ttOL.LANID T AAES I.Nl :n:lr!iiP-"-uilftT.4!J!'4fl: PART :U:Uil. ?!RESEIR;IJ1Ill\'S IRISES tr!i. H. &-lb~ 1636 QUEST 1 ON ~: AN~EIR: D:E:lP.·~.!F'{flrBH Ha1rll"'!Yl ji. i slhia:;­ 1642 IRIS (MF C::IHI I IHI~. lf#t.B'.JJ..JE. trl~F C6:l~flfOJiTS Jraume.s ~l-a,dl(di:i: d:· 1643 JlJNl:1.) l!<tOTES ll989 · Alan 11'11d'll.:.1tr.'·ltiri.a? 1644 TREASU.RBR"S ~?Q~Tt 1\'o!D Prie s 1657 EDITOR"S CO(.!'tiltU9,'flfS J CDallli Oo.>I»ir:ie-e-· 1658 S; I. G!Nl~ is PILll.ltiJ JUi. s lh:e<di 1tiu.Q it :ii. rnfes p:.e--n~ y •ieani",, 'fa l l ai.trn dl S?r."' :ii lr.lSJ - !w.e rti.,e l come con.t-ibu.tio,.-1i11s -fhrom, l!"a,~av.dk=:·n~s;.. ~mis; lris g;n-·oi..u:rt tilia.s pa>l!"m::iis.s:ii.(O,im it-o. reprint e:irn!:!l in~a-ttieria.l first: lfl>l:"£Selill1teirll hei:~e. ID>ea.dll :ii.mies .a:l!"'e IFe!bii"'"lll!~?r~ 1 f o r s:~·,.r·in1~ ~.l!lld: Se:i=,it~1!he'I:~ :ti. 1fair 1fa! Ji... Y~1,r.-- ca:la!1"es:<s Lattr.e]. iilillrl:i !i:.a:tes y our c ,ur11~elillt: ldl.l.11es s1ra.:tt:1:..11s;.. <U-.Ll!ieS,t.':i:.ICll:niS:.- aon1ta.c:t F l or<el!Tla::e Si"toiurt:::. 1621 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE Elsewhere in this issue of SIONA you will find a sample page of one of the iris watercolors of Jean Witt. For some time now, there has been talk of adding color to these pages, and since Jean very graciously offered the use of her watercolor drawings, it was decided to combine them into a portfolio. This project has now been completed and we are grateful to Jean for her generosity. The set is being offered at cost and details about it and bow to order are in this issue. We hope you will take advantage of this amazing offer. We are also pleased to announce that the translation from the Chinese into En.glish of the Iris section of the Flora of China by Dr. Zhao is also completed and will be published by Timber Press, Oregon, sometime next spring. Also included in the book is an introduction to Chinese irises in the wild and in the garden by Dr. James Waddick. It will be illustrated with colored pictures of irises of China. The book follows closely on the heels of Dr. Waddick's successful trip to China where he collected and brought back some seventeen Chinese iris species. SIONA was a major contributor to the English translation of Dr. Zhao's writings and we look forward to the release of this important work. At the AIS Board of Directors meeting at Omaha last spring, the question of whether a species iris is eligible for Best Specimen of Show award was brought up. This is a vital issue that affects all_of us \\'.ho grow species, and as of ·this wtjting, no action has been taken by the AIS Board. Best Specimen of Show was won by species on five different occasions in 1989 and with the growing interest in species, this number could very well increase. There is also a movement afoot to create some kind of award for outstanding species irises. Please let us know your views on this vital subject by writing to Bob Pries, who is spearheading the awards movement, 6023 Antire Rd., High Ridge, MO 63049. [a copy to the editor would be appreciated. Ed.] It is imperative we let the AIS Board of Directors know our views so that a workable solution can be found for this problem. Please write today. Once again the time to gather iris seed has come and gone, and Seed Exchange Director, Phoebe Copley, is busy receiving and packaging seed for distribution over the next few months. This is Phoebe's last year as DirectQr, however, and we must find another to take over this important job beginning next year. Would you be willing to help? Not only is the Seed Exchange an important part of SIONA but this service is valuable to plantspeople everywhere. And, once again, all too quickly, another year has come and gone. We hope it has been a good one for you. We send our very best wishes for the new one. Colin Rigby Penngrove, CA 1622 SIGNA PRESENTS THE IRIS WATERCOLORS OF JEANwrIT The set cons1sts of some twelve pages with a total of fifteen different iris subjects printed in full color on heavy, acid-resistant, non-yellowing paper. Page size is 8½ x 11 inches and each is suitable for framing. All were painted from life of irises raised and flowered in the Seattle area and give us an opportunity t_o see in color- some rare and unusual species. Irises included in the folio are: I. rut hen lea I . mlssourlensls I • tenax I . baker Jana I . decora I. ungulcularts 'Mary Barnard' r. retlculata 'Purple Gem• I • rossl I \ I. chrysophy/Ja \ I • buchar/c.ei -\ I • kotpakowsklana I . setosa c.einadensls I . verna I . lnnomlnata \ ''"olct Beauty' Individual sets are sent in their own envelope and are backed both sides with heavy clipboard to insure safe arrival. Cost of the complete set 1s $8.50 postpaid. This is first class mail in the United States and Canada and surface mail on overseas orders. For overseas a1rma11, add $2.50 additional. Make check or money order payable to SIGNA and send to: SIGNA, 2087 Curtis Drive, Penngrove, CA 94951. The Watercolors are being offered at cost, and although a sufficient number of sets were printed, when current supply is exhausted, the offer wi l l not be repeated as the printing plates have been destroyed. A sample print is included in each issue. Enjoy! 1623 .lriJ pariensis. The Paria River Iris: A New American Species by James W. Waddick Dr. Norlan Henderson, r.ecently retired from his position as Professor of Botany at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, jumped head first into a new project as a participant in the new ·'Flora of North America." This is the first comprehensive flora for this area that is being compiled by the Missouri Botanical Garden.