Brothers and Sisters. Its in the genes.

Thanks .. that's very interesting :o)

Hi, I agree, very interesting, Derek.

Fascinating! And such beautiful markings, too.

It's very obvious now thanks to you SBG. I'm hoping you are able to answer an Iris poser.
I read the other day that the difference between I. histriodes and I. reticulata was that I. reticulata has those longer grass like leaves. Is that true?

They really are lovely as well...

according to the RHS book they both have square sectioned leaves1-10cm long, though histrioides may produce 2 flowers were reticulata only has 1. Both are classed as reticulated ie the fibrous coat .
other wise that is all I can glean.
Hopefully someone else can shed more light on it.

Thanks SBG, I found the same info but had read Re foliage on a blog (not GOY).

Lovely Irises you have there! They are sufficiently alike to be easily confused. Only an expert or someone like you who has them & has pictures of them could tell them apart!

All lovely - I think Frank elder wins though

my fav is actually Lady Beatrix Stanley. She is a rich deep blue flower and so unlike these three.

Well, it certainly helped me and I've faved this blog for future reference.
Thanks Seaburn!

That's interesting. Such slight differences, but each one a lovely flower in it's own right :o)

According to one of my books the 3 pale ones are probably a cross between I histrioides and I danfordiae due to the yellow hues in the flower.

I don't know Frank - I must keep an eye open for him in the autumn! :-)

I still like Lady Beatrix best as well - where does she fit in, Sbg?

she and Major are Histiriodes but 'probably' crossed with reticulata also a reticulated iris.
so cousins I suppose.

I do wish the reticulated group just had reticulata in it and not other gerenra, but hey who am I to argue :o))