Classification of bearded irises — TB, IB, BB, SDB, MTB, MDB

Iris, or Killer whale, or Cockerel[2] (Latin Iris) is a genus of perennial rhizomatous plants of the Iris family, or Killer whales (Iridaceae). Irises are found on all continents. The genus contains about 800 species with a wide variety of shapes and shades. It got its name from the other Greek. ἶρῐς - rainbow.

The most decorative are the so–called "bearded" irises, with a characteristic pubescence of multicellular hairs on the outer lobes of the perianth (beard), which include all varieties of hybrid garden iris (Iris hybrida hort.). They predominate in the global assortment, numbering today more than 80 thousand names

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Garden classification of bearded irises

According to the modern international classification of irises, developed by the American Iris Society (AIS), it is customary to distinguish 8 garden classes of bearded irises:

1. Tall bearded (TB) – Tall bearded

2. Border bearded (BB) – Border bearded

3. Miniature tall bearded (MTB) – Miniature tall bearded

4. Intermedia bearded (IB) – Bearded Intermedia

5. Standard dwarf bearded (SDB) – Standard dwarf bearded

6. Miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) – Miniature dwarf bearded

7. Aril (AR) – Aryls

8. Arilbred (AB) – Arilbreds

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The height of the peduncle of the bearded iris

According to the height of the peduncle, there are three groups of bearded irises:

-dwarf (up to 40 cm),

-medium-sized (41-70 cm),

-high (above 70 cm).

Dwarf irises are divided into:

- miniature – MDB (miniature dwarf bearded), which usually have 1-3 flowers on a peduncle no more than 20 cm high.;

- standard – SDB (standard dwarf bearded) – the height of the peduncle is 21-40 cm and, as a rule, 2-4 flowers per peduncle.

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ROARING FIRE (Black *18*) SDB - standard dwarf

Medium-sized irises are divided into classes:

-IB (intermediate bearded), irises that usually have more than 4 flowers per peduncle,

-BB (border bearded) – irises with more than 6 flowers per peduncle;

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GLOWGIRL ( Blyth*12* ) - Medium-sized

Tall bearded irises also bear, as a rule, more than 6 flowers per peduncle. The varieties of tall bearded irises are the most numerous and most popular. Modern varieties of tall bearded ones, as a rule, are distinguished by powerful branched "candelabra-shaped" peduncles with a large number of buds. However, the number of flowers on a peduncle is not a diagnostic criterion for the garden classification of irises, but rather a criterion for judges when evaluating a particular cultivar.

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JUST WITCHERY ( Blyth 11 ) – TV

The type of color of the iris flower

The color of iris flowers is provided by the presence of two groups of pigments: anthocyanins – violet-red, purple, lavender, blue, purple, and carotenoids – yellow, orange, pink.

Varieties of hybrid iris by flower color are divided into:

single-color (self) – in different colors;
two–tone (bitone) - with coloration of the inner and outer lobes of the perianth, differing in intensity of the same color.;
bicolor – with the upper and lower lobes painted in different colors.

Certain terms are used for some color combinations of the upper and lower lobes. Thus, bicolor irises with white upper lobes are called "amoena", and those with yellow ones are called "variegata".

Two-tone irises with light purple upper and dark purple (purple) lower lobes are called "neglecta".
Two-tone and two-tone varieties of irises, in which the upper lobes are colored darker than the lower ones, are called "reverse" (reverse).
"Plicata" is an iris color pattern with anthocyanin (in the spectrum from pink-lilac to dark purple) pattern on a light (white, cream, yellow, etc.) field on the bases and often on the edges of the perianth lobes. Sometimes the pattern can cover the entire surface of the iris lobes.
"Luminata" is a color pattern with the absence of anthocyanin pigments on the anthocyanin field around the beard (necessarily) and along the edges of the perianth lobes (often).
"Luminata–plicata" is a color pattern that combines the above-mentioned features.
"Glaciata" is a color pattern with the absence of anthocyanin pigments; flowers in white, yellow, pink, and orange colors have a clear, icy tone.
Iridescent (blend) is a color pattern of varieties, in the color of the perianth lobes of which, as a rule, smooth transitions from one color to another are observed.

A special category consists of varieties of irises with an irregular (visually chaotic, haphazard) pattern of perianth lobes – the so-called "broken" color. (broken color). Their flowers resemble those of tulips infected with the variegation virus.

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PEEKABOO ZEBU (TB) - "broken" color,

The color scheme of irises

The color of iris flowers is provided by the presence of two groups of pigments: anthocyanins (purple-red, purple, lavender, blue, purple); and carotenoids (yellow, orange, pink). Therefore, wild iris species have predominantly blue and yellow flowers.

The shape of the iris flower

The flowers of irises have, as a rule, 6 perianth lobes: 3 internal (standards) and 3 external (folies). According to the position of the foul, the following forms of the iris flower are distinguished:

classic – the fouls of iris are directed downwards;
semi–floating - the fouls of the iris are directed downwards and to the sides;
floating – the fouls of the iris are directed horizontally.

The flowers of irises can have straight (even) edges. The foul flowers are so–called "strict style" (tailored); ruffled (ruffled, waved); laced (laced), or bubbly (bubbly).

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TANTALIZING (Blyth *15*) - Two-tone, classic strict style

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DRESSED TO THE NINES (T. Johnson *19*) (TB) Two-tone, semi-steaming, corrugated

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SUPER MODEL (T.Johnson *07*) (TB) - monochrome, semi-shiny, lace (needle-like).

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SHE (Blyth *15*) ( TB) - monochrome, semi-steaming, bubbly

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ENAMORED (Ghio *09* ) – TV – two-tone, corrugated, floating fouls

The vast majority of modern varieties of tall bearded irises have flowers with corrugated folds, to one degree or another, large flowers with a dense texture.

The shape of the beard of the bearded irises

There are often varieties of irises with a beard that is colored in contrast to the color of the perianth lobes. A new phenomenon in the breeding of bearded irises is varieties with different beard growths – the so–called "space generation" irises (space agers). Outgrowths can be in the form of a horn, a spoon, or a "petal" – a petaloid (flounce). This does not always manifest itself in the climatic conditions of our country, as it depends, among other things, on the climatic zone, weather conditions and agricultural technology.

The flowering period of irises

For the varieties of each of the three main groups of bearded irises, early, medium and late flowering periods are distinguished. The flowering of many varieties of irises does not fit into the framework of any one period, therefore there are additional gradations (categories), for example: "early–medium", "medium–late".

These dates are flexible and depend on specific regional climatic and weather conditions. The flowering season of bearded irises is opened by miniature dwarf (MDB) irises: for example, in Central Russia they usually bloom in early May. After them, around the middle of May, the standard dwarf irises (SDB) bloom. Medium–sized varieties of irises IB bloom between the flowering of SDB and TV irises, and varieties of irises BB - simultaneously with the tall ones, which complete the flowering season of bearded irises.

Some varieties of irises have the property of re-flowering (rebloom, remontant), but in the climatic conditions of our country this does not happen in all regions, therefore, such varieties of irises are not specifically marked in the electronic database.

The flower bud of irises is laid in the previous summer when a certain amount of average daily positive temperatures accumulates. If the summer was cool, some late varieties of irises may not bloom.

Irises Awards

The highest award for irises awarded by AIS is the Dykes Memorial Medal. It is annually claimed by varieties of all garden classes of irises introduced in North America, which received the highest award in their class this year. It was established in 1927. In addition, the Australian and British Dykes Medals are awarded.

The highest iris awards in each garden class, awarded by AIS, respectively, are:

In the TB class, the John C. Whister Medal, named after the first AIS President, was established in 1993. During the first five years (1993-1997), it was awarded annually to only one variety, and since 1998 to three varieties. In all other garden classes, the corresponding medal is awarded annually to only one variety.
In the BB class, the Knowlton Medal
In class IB– the Sass Medal (Hans and Jacob Sass Medal)
In the SDB class, the Cook – Douglas Medal
In the MDB class, the Caparne – Welch Medal was established in 1984.
In the SIB class, the Morgan –Wood Medal was established in 1986. Prior to that, the Morgan–Wood Prize had been awarded since 1952.
In the JA class, the J.A. Payne Medal

There are several international iris contests in the world. The longest history of the International Iris Competition in Florence (Italy) is Concorso Internazionale dell'Iris, organized by Societa Italiana dell'Iris. It has been held annually since 1957 among cultivars of irises of garden classes TB and BB.

Breeders

The main centers of modern world breeding of irises are: USA; Russian Federation; Australia; France, Germany, Great Britain, Ukraine. The share of U.S. hybridizers (the main centers are the states of California and Oregon) accounts for more than half of the annually introduced varieties.

Author: Kirill Andreevich Golikov - Candidate of Biological Sciences