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Colors and Patterns

Amoena
White standards, colored falls.

Bicolor
Standards a different color from the falls.

Bitone Standards and falls different shades of the same color. Falls usually darker.

Blend
Combination of 2 or more colors, smoothly or unevenly mixed.

Luminata
Style arms and hafts are white or yellow. Remainder of the flower is washed with color, with paler veins.

Border – The edge of the falls is a different color than the color of the standards or falls. If the border is narrow it is called a rim or halo. If the border is wide it can be called a band.

Glaciata – Iris lacking the purple anthocyanin pigment; bright glowing white, yellow, pink, or orange.

Ground color – Usually mentioned with plicatas: solid base color under dots or peppering.

Neglecta – Blue or purple bi-tone, the standards being the lighter tone.

Peppering – A plicata patterning with a sprinkling of contrasting color over an iris with a yellow or white background color.

Plicata – Striped, dotted, or stitched margin color on lighter ground color.

Reverse Amoena – A rarer combination of colored standards and white falls.

Reverse Bi-tone – When the standards are the darker shade.

Self – Standards and falls are the same color.

Signal – A patch of contrasting color at the tip of the beard.

Stitching – Stitch-like markings around the edge of the petals.

Sunburst – White or light streaks fanning out on the falls, around or beyond the beards.

Variegata – Yellow standards, reddish-colored falls.

Zonal – Distinct white or light area around the beard in the middle of the falls.