Irises - Historic Iris Preservation Society

THE PALLIDA GROUP 39
more striking plant
is the Dalmatian pallida, sometimes
known as Princess Beatrice. The colour is
very similar to
that of the type, but the flowers have more substance and
the plants have a sturdier appearance, although the stems
do not rise to such a height, nor do they carry quite so
many flowers. For some reason or other, this plant is slow
of increase. It seems to put so much of its strength into
producing its huge flowers of wonderful substance that it
has little
energy left to form much new growth for succeeding
years.
In this respect,
it is
surpassed by
a rather darkercoloured
form of similar habit, known as Albert Victor.
This grows more freely, and it is a pity that it has not quite
such a clear, bright colour-scheme as Princess Beatrice.
However incongruous
it
may seem, there are some
pallidas that are distinctly dark in colour. For instance,
Foster had one form from Monte Brione, of which the
flowers are a uniform dark red-lilac or lavender-purple,
and in most collections similar forms may be found under
varying names.
To this group, too, belong the numerous varieties,
whose flowers are in colour an approach to pink. One
of the best known, of a pale shade, is Queen of May, Her
Majesty being somewhat deeper, and the colour perhaps
not quite so clear. The newer Trautlieb is of a soft rose
colour. A dwarf pink, and one moreover that is
very floriferous,
is Mrs. Allan Grey, which was a hybrid obtained
by Foster by fertilising 7. Cengialtii with pollen of Queen
of May. Cengialtii itself and its variety Loppio come from
the slopes adjacent to Monte Baldo on the north-eastern
side of the Lago di Garda. Cengialtii with its clear blue