by Tom Waters
It is said that a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous
thing. One manifestation of that pervasive truth is slapping botanical
names onto plants where they don't belong. Is it perhaps the urge to seem
erudite, or the mistaken notion (propagated in school biology classes), that
every organism has a species name, or just unthinking propagation of error,
dripping down through the years?
'Absolute Treasure' Please don't call me I. germanica |
Identifying a hybrid with a particular species is not just
annoying to those of us with a pedantic streak but can lead to real confusion.
People who want to acquire actual species out of botanical interest or for
hybridizing, for example, can be sent down time-wasting rabbit holes by this
practice, and it is even worse when false botanical names end up in published
pedigrees and official descriptions.
So, let's look at the major offenders:
1. Referring to all Siberian irises as Iris sibirica or Iris siberica.
This error is reinforced, I think, because of the similarity of the
classification name to the botanical name. Most Siberian iris cultivars are
advanced hybrids involving I. sibirica and I. sanguinea. The
40-chromosome Siberians do not involve I. sibirica at all.
'Katharine Hodgkin' Please don't call me I. reticulata |
2. Referring to all reticulata irises as Iris reticulata. Yes, there is a species, I. reticulata, sold in the bulb trade and grown in gardens. However, the horticultural group known as reticulata irises includes hybrids and cultivars from a range of species, including I. histrio, I. histrioides, and I. bakerana. Many of Alan McMurtrie's colorful recent hybrids involve I. danfordiae and I. sophenensis. Once again, I think the fact that the common name for the whole group ("reticulata irises") is so similar to the species name I. reticulata is largely to blame for the confusion.
3. Referring to all dwarf bearded irises as Iris pumila. Although
the species I. pumila is important in the background of modern dwarf
bearded irises, most cultivars are advanced-generation hybrids involving I.
pumila and tall bearded iris cultivars in various combinations. Modern standard dwarf bearded (SDB) and miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) irises are far removed indeed from the species. I think part of the
problem is that pumila is the Latin word for "dwarf," so people who
are not botanically knowledgeable believe they can just translate the term "dwarf
iris" to Iris pumila.
'Beetlejuice' Please don't call me I. pumila |
As a final aside, names that look like species binomials are
sometimes used for groups of hybrids. For example, hybrids of I. domestica and I. dichotoma are referred to as Iris ´norrisii, and Iris ´hollandica may be used for Dutch Irises. Note that the "´" is a
necessary part of these names. Furthermore, the Latin name for the hybrid group
should never be identical to the name of some particular species.
Be wary of these widespread but incorrect uses of botanical
names. They not only make it difficult to identify plants correctly but also
add to a general confusion concerning the hybrid nature of popular groups of
garden irises.