Hello!I'm a new member in this forum!
I'm doing a research based on Dioscurides ''On medical material" (written circa 50-70 AD) and one of the many names he uses to describe iris is supertitious (ōpertitis).So,I just found out about iris superstition but its registration date is 1977 ...My question is:Was the name "iris superstition" used before it was hybridized by Schreiner in '77?Thanks in advance!

I think Schreiner's iris named Superstition is not at all related to the iris of Dioscurides. Was he speaking of a type of iris, or of a specific iris? Schreiner's is just one that was hybridized by them and given that name back in 1977.

I am afraid that what his iris actually looked like is lost to history. The earliest bearded iris that are still around today, or at least the earliest with some sort of positive identification, are from much later. Florentina is one of them and is from the 1500's (more or less). There may be many other iris species that have been growing since the time of Dioscurides but the history is unknown for so many of them. A European historical iris society may be of better help, and you can check with HIPS (Historic Iris Preservation Society) as well.

If you do find out more about his iris, please post your findings. I think it would fascinating to know more about the flower we love so much on this forum.

Thanks for your precious help Leslie!I'll be sure to contact them for more information and post my findings as soon as possible!
As for iris superstitious,do you happen to know why it was named like this?

Hybridizers try to come up with names that fit the color, the shape, pattern, or just something fun and marketable like the name of a song. Schreiner's has introduced so many irises over the years I don't think any one name has huge significance beyond what is listed above.

The iris you are referring to is Superstition



If you click on the name (blue text) in the box it will take you to the database page for this iris.

Good luck on your research. We would love to see what you find out!

And welcome!!!

There's a little information, here, about it
http://www.botanical.com/botan...

Great article Arlyn.

thanks arlyn. wonderful read.