Hybridizing for Seed ~ Part 2 of 3

Hybridizing Japanese Iris for Selected Seed.

How?

Photo 4: Take a set of tweezers to remove the immature anthers from the flower. In a single flower ( 3 falls) the 3 anthers are easy to see and be removed. In multi-petaled flowers ( 6 falls ) there are extra petals which come from the development of stamens and/or style arms, the stigmas may be absent or vestigial and the anthers attached to the petals without any filaments making the cross impossible. So select a variety with strong style arms and stigma so you can achieve your cross.
Look to see the 3 style arms and remove all immature anthers.
See Photo 4.
This photo shows the styles at the tips of the style arms. On the underside of the style is a lip which at the central point of this lip is the Stigma.The closed immature stigma here is held tight against the styles needing time to mature and will open outwards to receive the pollen.

Photo 6: This photo shows the immature undehisced anthers (unopened anther) and the dehisced anthers ( opened to release the pollen) showing the ripe mature pollen grains on the surface of the open anther.

Photo 7: Is ripe mature anthers containing pollen grains ready to use and transfer to an open stigma. I collect the opening anthers from flowers of my pollen parents a day or two before hand or on the same day as I remove the falls from the balloon staged unopened flowers of my pod parents which I have selected. Planning in advance and collected more anthers than necessary is required for your selected crosses. But sometimes nature on the day changes your best plans so go with the flow and have some alternative crosses as a back up. I store them on a plastic lid in a dry situation away from direct sunlight to allow the anthers to open and mature ready to use. Try to keep the anthers at room temperature to dry. Avoid getting damp. A tooth pick can be used to remove pollen from the opening anthers as well.

See Part 3 and 3 to follow my hybridizing blog.

Please click on the flower photo's to enlarge.

Acknowledgment. Some information used in the blog was gained from the book "The Japanese Iris" written by the late Currier McEwen. "An international authority on the history and cultivation of the Japanese Iris." This book is a bible on information for those dedicated to the growing and promotion of the Japanese Iris.