Regarding the cultivar Four Star, both Bob and Eric Tankesley Clarke are still alive. It appears they must have registered a seedling of Frank Kropfs after his death. ( this makes sense, as all are from the same region, AHS Region 11
- MO and KS) Kropf was known as primarily a hybridizer of layered doubles, so my guess is that they registered it as a double spider because it exhibited the characteristics of both forms. It may also correctly be registered as polymerous if it indeed polymerous. When it blooms poly, are you able to count extra "parts" as judges sometimes call the pistils and stamens in shows. IF a cultivar is missing some of its parts or if one is deformed( sometimes exhibitors may not notice this) that is also counted as a deduction. So be sure to notice all parts- a deformed or missing stamen could mean the difference between a purple and a blue ribbon. IF you think you have a poly bloom, you MUST see an extra stamen for the extra segments!
One more thing - since the hybridizers are still alive, only THEY can change the registration information. If you believe this cultivar is polymerous, why don't you contact them and ask? ( Of course, they would have to pay a $6.00 fee to change the registration data at this point, some hybridizers won't change it because it costs money to do so.)
