Another Mystery Bulb
Jamie (Mon, 19 May 2003 09:54:12 PDT)

Jim, Paul,

at first I thought you were both nuts, I tectorum! Oops, wrong picture!
Not even from the wiki. I still haven't learned to deal with downloading
from multiple sites. However, seeing the correct picture, this is a much
deeper blue than the tectorum I once tried to grow (not at all hardy in
Cologne.) Also, the crest is pretty discrete. I may well have had a
hybrid, it was a garden centre plant, not from a specialist.

As to the name roof iris, I once read and have since heard, the Japanese
planted this iris (the Chinese may well have started it), as well as I.
japonica around forts and on rooves to prevent a good grip with your boots!
The slippery leaves were seen as a defense against attack from marauding
Samauri, etc! That said, I can't see it surviving Tokyo winters! Maybe it
was a southern thing?

Jamie V.
Cologne

----- Original Message -----
From: "James Waddick" <jwaddick@kc.rr.com>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [pbs] Another Mystery Bulb