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The Iridaceae conference was held at the Orto Botanico in Rome, Italy, from the 8th to 11th May 1998. It was organized by Prof. Maria Antonietta Colasante, lecturer in Plant Systematics and researcher in Plant Taxonomy (mainly on Iridaceae), at the Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, University "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy (Director Prof C. Blasi), with help from Dr. Paula J. Rudall Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K.), Dr. Christopher J. Humphries Natural History Museum, London, U.K.) and Miss Marquita Baird (Linnean Society, London, U.K.). The meeting was co-sponsored by the University of Rome and the Linnean Society. The Societa' Italiana dell'Iris (and its President Prof S. Orsi) contributed an excellent lunch in Florence, the Director of Orto Botanico, Rome (Prof G. Avena) provided two lovely lunches in Rome, and Guido Degl'Innocenti produced an agreeable picnic on the excursion.
The subject of the meeting concerned the diversity and systematics of the family Iridaceae, which is very rich in species and hybrids. The aims were: (1) to present up-to-date research on the genus Iris and the family Iridaceae, (2) to discuss scientific and applied research on varieties and hybrids, (3) to highlight the noteworthy work of the Iris Societies of the world. This was achieved by bringing together Iris lovers, breeders and scientists, to mutually improve different levels of knowledge and understanding of this family, and to promote new fields of research, taking into account the practical results achieved through experimental hybridization.
The oral programme (details enclosed in the following sheets), was on May 8th and 9th in the lecture theatre at the Rome Orto Botanico. The talks were subdivided into sessions as follows: day 1 (am and pm), scientific aspects of the family Iridaceae (morphology, palynology, anatomy, chemotaxonomy, cytotaxonomy, biogeography); day 2 (am), the genus Iris L., (pm) horticultural aspects of Iris hybrids and varieties. There was also an exhibition of about 20 scientific posters, which concerned different aspects of diversity and systematics using different techniques of investigations: chemotaxonomy, ecology, conservation, etc.). The third day was spent in Florence at the Giardino della Societa' Italiana, to admire the Irises in the annual International competition for the best experimental hybrid and at the Iris nursery of Guido Degl'Innocenti, to observe horticulture of hybrids. On the fourth day (11th) there was an excursion on the top of Monte Zappi, Monte Gennaro (Monti Lucretili), to observe Iris sabina N. Terracc. in flower in its natural habitat, thanks to the staff of the Parco Regionale dei Monti Lucretili.
Peter Goldblatt (Missouri Botanical Gardens, USA), Brian Mathew (BIS, U.K.), C.G. Vosa University of Pisa), James Waddick and Mike Lowe (AIS, USA) gave precious advice and kind collaboration to the organization of the conference, the latter via the Internet.
The speakers, in alphabetical order, were: Anne Blanco white (U.K.), Milan Blazec (Czech Republic), Margareth Cameron Longo (Italy), Vladimir Choob (Russia), Ofer Cohen (Israel), Maretta Colasante (Italy), Peter Goldblatt (USA and South Africa), Maria Grilli Caiola (Italy), Tony Hall (U.K.), Jeffrey B. Harborne (U.K.), Christopher Humphries (U.K.), Annick Le Thomas (France), Brian Mathew (U.K.), Gail Reeves (U.K.), George I. Rodionenko (Russia), Paula Rudall (U.K.), Nadia Said Chukr (Brazil), Yuval Sapir (Israel), Nigel Service (U.K.), Nico Tillie (the Netherlands). Some of them also chaired sessions, in addition to Dennis Wm. Stevenson (USA).
The organizer of the Iridaceae Conference,..........................................Return to Table of Contents