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What is Spec-X?
Spec-X is the term applied to any hybrids that do not fall into a conventional category such as Louisianas, Siberians, or Junos. It literally means "species cross". Spec-X hybrids are often wide crosses between different clades or sections. The Spec-X term is also used by traditional bearded iris hybridizers to describe a near-species level new seedling.
In recent years Spec-X irises have become quite popular. The American Iris Society established the Randolph-Perry Award in 2003 to honor the best of these new seedlings. Some Spec-X crosses are common enough that unofficial scientific names have been applied to them. Others were once thought to be species but later analysis showed them to be naturally occurring hybrids and so their species epithet has been downgraded to a Spec-X assignment.
× biversata = versata × versicolor [the name is meant to suggest 2 doses of versicolor] × reversicolor = versicolor × biversata × reensata = versata × ensata [the name is meant to suggest 2 doses of ensata] × tetraversata = tetraploid versata = tetraploid (versicolor × ensata) × robusta = a natural hybrid of I. virg. shrevei × versicolor reported by Anderson (1949) × versilaev = versicolor × laevigata × pseudata = pseudacorus × ensata × sibtosa = sibirica × setosa × tetrasibtosa = tetraploid sibtosa = tetraploid (sibirica × setosa) |
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