HYBRIDS AND HYBRIDISING 45 



2| in. The style arms are deep-red brown, and the 

 crests of brighter claret purple clearly veined. 



/. paradoxa has been exceedingly useful in the hands 

 of Sir Michael Foster, and it is always evident in the 

 hybrid of which it is a parent. With such plants as 

 /. variegata and I. sambucina it has produced very easy- 

 growing and effective plants. /. iberica has also proved 

 a very good parent. Notwithstanding the magnificent 

 and superb results obtained by crossing with members 

 of the Oncocyclus and Regelia groups, it is still perhaps 

 by the use of the best of these groups that finest results 

 may be expected. I am not aware that the magnificent 

 /. Gatesi has been utilised, and there is also the much 

 lauded /. sofarana. Of the Regelia group /. Korolkovui 

 is a splendid parent, and some of its beautiful features 

 are always impressed upon the offspring. It is at least 

 curious that Oncocyclus Irises should unite with members 

 of the Pogoniris group, and less than a prophet might 

 promise revelations of beauty and utility if successful 

 crosses are made. A present example, raised by Sir 

 Michael Foster, may be given in iberica X pallida. The 

 beard is quite that of the Oncocyclus section, but the plant 

 is 2| ft. high, the stems are one to three flowered, and the 

 habit of the plant is strong and robust. It has spathe- 

 valves, which, being scarious, distinctly point to pallida 

 as one of the parents. /. iberica is not so clearly seen, 

 but the "eye" or "signal" spot of iberica is a great 

 feature of the plant. It is distinctly ornamental, and 

 has the advantage of being easily grown. Its foliage is 

 retained in winter, and growth also appears to be 

 made. 



Within the Pogoniris group numerous hybrids have 

 long been familiar in gardens, and some, perhaps un- 

 fortunately, have been named as if they were wild 

 types. Such, for instance, are /. neglecta, I. hybrida, 

 I. plicata, and /. Siverti. Wild plants no doubt are 



