Just wondering why there is not a listing for ploidy in the Iris Database? I know it is included in the Daylily listings. I was adding Irises to my Flower 2013 software and noticed there is a ploidy menu there.

I got an answer from the Iris list. Thanks!

What was the answer?

Well, here is the answer I was provided in the Iris form was

Most of the modern TBs & SDBs are 48 c. MTBs are diploid & more tets are coming. the hybridizers usually indicate. The old pallidas & other early historics are diploids (24). so it is not necessary to list for each plant. the change to tet for the larger TBs is not new so not listed.

I'll have to do a little research to figure out what it all means.. lol

Its all completely foreign to me! I'll stick with my NOIDS handed down from Grandma

@ Jennifer, me too!! lol

@ Dave if you have simpler explanation or can explain the reply I go, it would help.

I think I can help on this one.

First sentence: "Most of the modern TBs & SDBs are 48 c." This means that modern tall bearded irises ("TBs") and standard dwarf irises (SDBs) have 48 chromosomes ("48 c"). This is double the normal count for irises, hence they are "tetraploid".

Second sentence: "MTBs are diploid & more tets are coming. the hybridizers usually indicate." This means that miniature tall bearded irises (MTBs) are diploid (24 chromosomes) but hybridizers are creating more of them that are tetraploid (tets) and the hybridizer would include this information in the description.

A short explanatory dictionary to summarize:

Diploid iris have 24 chromosomes
Tetraploid (tet) iris have double that, 48 chromosomes
TB = Tall bearded iris
SDB = Standard dwarf bearded iris
MTB = Miniature tall bearded iris. These are tall irises that have little flowers.

All of this is important to know for hybridizers. For a cross to be successful the two parents need to have the same chromosome count, for example, both diploid or both tetraploid. Otherwise it is not important to know if you are just growing them to look pretty in the garden.

Well now that I have muddied the waters more....

Far from it Connie, that was an excellent explanation, easily understood in laymans terms.

Thanks Sue . I'm sure there is more to it than that. Mostly I simply tried to expand on irisarian's comment. I know more about crossing liliums but I do have a few iris crosses I have made.

Well she lost me after TBs lol so, your explanation helped a great deal! I am trying to learn more about them but was pretty much lost there. Guess I need to study some more. lol

Thank you very much Connie!! That made it seem easy!

Glad to help!