Glossary
Terminology
Amoena – white standards, colored falls.
Beard- fuzzy attachment at the base of each falls petal.
Bicolor standards and falls are different colors.
Bitone- standards and falls are different shades of the same color; falls are usually darker shade.
Blend- combination of two or more colors smoothly or unevenly mixed.
Broken Color- splashed or streaked with another color (each blossom is different).
Claw- The narrow base of the standard and fall, the expanded leaf-like part is called the blade.
Diamond dusted- tiny, conical raised areas across the petal surface which shines like diamonds in the light.
Dykes Medal- highest award given to one iris annually (any class can win this award)
Falls- the lower three petals of the iris bloom.
Flounces- often canoe or fan-shaped appendages extending from the tips of the beard – appear like little petals.
Glaciata- these lack all anthocyanin pigments and are pure whites, yellows, pinks or oranges, formerly called ices.
Hafts- the top part of the falls near the center where the falls connect to the stem.
Horns- an extension of the beard turned upward like spikes, often ending in a point or may be hair covered.
Historic- Irises over 30 years old. Most dates are the year introduced commercially; some are registration dates.
Infusion- faint or subtle overlay of one color on another.
Luminata- style arms and hafts are white or yellow; the reminder of the flower is washed with color.
Neglecta- light blue standards, darker falls.
Ovary- The enlarged green, three chambered structure enclosing the ovules where fertilization occurs
Petals- a term sometimes used for convenience lumping standards and falls
Pistil- The style arms with stigmatic lips connecting to the ovary. The female flower parts.
Plicata- speckled, stitched or solid margin of color on lighter ground.
Rebloomer- an iris that blooms in any other season than after normal spring bloom.
Self- standards and falls are the same color.
Shoulders- The areas on the arching upper middle part of the falls on each side just beyond the haft areas
Signal- a patch of contrasting color surrounds the bear, often white or yellow.
Silver lining- standards and falls have raised areas on the edges that reflect light in a shining line.
Space age (SA)- has horns, spoons, or flounces extending from the bear.
Spathes- The pair of modified green leaves that enclose the flower bud, usually turning tan after it blooms.
Spoons- appendages extending from the tip of the beard like spoons.
Stamen- The anther plus its attachment filament. The anthers contain the granular pollen. The male flower parts.
Standards- the three upper petals of the iris bloom – they stand erect.
Style arms- The three double crested structures inside the three standards, whose horizontal stigmatic lips are pollinated. (The stamen arises at the base of the style arms extending vertically up their centers.)
Substance- thickness and resilient tensile strength of the flower parts.
Sunburst- white or light streaks fanning out on the falls around, and sometimes beyond the beards.
Spot- darker area around and below the beard on lighter or different colored falls.
Style arms- the small stiff portions of the bloom extending over the beard.
Texture- surface sheen or finish, such as velvety or satiny of the petals.
Variegata- yellow or near yellow standards with darker falls of brown or purple.
Wash- definite overlay of one color on another.
Zonal- a distinct white or light area around the beards in the middle of the falls.
Bearded Iris Types
AB (Arilbred) is a hybrid between the exotic aril irises of the near and Middle East and the bearded irises. Unusual color and form.
BB (Boarder Bearded) is a shorter version of the TB in height range of 16” to 27 ½”. (41 to 70 cm) usually bloom with the TBs.
IB (Intermediate Bearded) is from 16” to 27 ½” tall and are usually crosses between SDB’s and TB’s, Bloom near the end of the SDB season and the beginning of the TB bloom.
MDB (Miniature Dwarf Bearded) has stalks less than 10” tall. Bloom very, very early in the season.
Bloom Season Codes
E- Early
ML- Late mid-season
EM- Early mid-season
RE- Rebloomer (Spring and Fall bloom)
L- Late
VE- Very Early
M- Mid –season
VL- Very late
Awards
Note: Awards are given annually to the top voted cultivar. All AIS awards are based upon voting by AIS judges on performance in the garden
CDM Cook-Douglas Medal- awarded for Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris
CGW Clarence G. White Medal- award for pure Arils and Arilbreds with Aril traits and at least ½ Aril ancestry
CWM Caparne-Welch Medal- award for Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris