This link is to Ma's Pretty Blue- and I want to know why this isn't a chimera?
http://www.violetbarn.com/ma's_pretty_blue.htm
question for the experts
Most striped blooms like that result from two separate genetic identities combining on the same plant (chimera), but once in a while a plant comes along that can produce stripes from just one set of genes. This one sure "looks like" a chimera, but if it produces true offspring from leaf cuttings, then it doesn't have 2 different genotypes in it. I'd say it's as pretty as any chimera, with the bonus of being able to propagate it more easily!
Thanks Jill!
The chimera thing always confuses me too... I finally decided I can't really tell if a plant is chimera or not by looking at it! Not all chimeras have stripes, and not all striped blooms are chimeras. I read somewhere that chimera stripes will extend all the way to the outer edge of the petal tip, while non-chimeras may have stripes but will also have a border around the outer edge... but then Allison came up with some examples that contradicted that theory... so I really think the definition is more about genetics and the method of propagation necessary to make a new plant that's true to the parent.
I guess that I am going to have to decide based on price! LOL. Boy they sure want an arm and a leg for them don't they?
Well, that's easier to understand when you figure they can only get a few suckers at a time from a mature plant of a chimera, rather than being able to propagate several plantlets from a leaf. But yeah, whooheee, some of them are really pricey!
BTW, if you check up on the photos showing single blooms of the Ma's varieties, you'l see that the 'Ma's Pretty Blue' bloom that they show looks more edged than striped.
I'll tell you lot of it's blooms look like Stripes Chimera blooms though FC says
Ma's Pretty Blue (9388) 10/15/2004 (O. Robinson) Single-semidouble light-medium blue-purple large frilled star/thin white edge. Variegated medium green and white, pointed, serrated. Standard
The FC does not even say Stripe at all.... maybe it's sporting and down the road it will be sold as a Chimera good price for a beautiful Plant !
It also looks more like a Chimera than some of Ma's Chimera's on FC.
I thought for sure it was but they didn't say so- like you say, maybe down the road. I have to say that I have been seeing so many AVs that I want- wonder if I can take out a loan- think the bank will go for it, REASON FOR LOAN: increase my AV collection!?