This is the large bearded Iris, the most easily recognized. She comes in many colors and variations. Her upright pedals are called her
standards. Her draping pedals are her
falls.
The purple, shown blue here has become variegated or
stripped with white. Her true color is a
sold purple. Variegation is the result
of a virus. This particular virus has no
damaging effects on the plant, save the alteration of some pigment cells.
I have seen this phenomenon in many different types of
flowers, including the rose. The whole
plant can variegate or only one part. This
Iris is one of several in a large clump that have remained true to color. I have had a hybrid tea rose, "Out of the
Blue," variegate in such a way as to leave only half the bush retaining its unadulterated
and rich bluish magenta. I have also
observed floribundas with one rose stripped among a cluster of roses seemingly
immune to the virus.
Variegation can last indefinitely or be gone in the next
season. This tends to happen to darker
color flowers in my experience. The pale
peach and cream colored Iris is pristine.
All in all, it is simply one of the Goddess’ little surprises.
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