Glossary and abbreviations
AGM  Award of Garden Merit - award presented in the UK by the JIC if an iris is deemed worthy after being on trial for 3 years. 
AIS  American Iris Society. For further details, see BIS. 
AM  Award of Merit - the second step on the awards ladder. 
amoena  An iris with white standards and coloured falls. 
BB  Border Bearded - growing between 41cm (16") and 70cm (27.5"). 
bicolour  An iris with standards of a different colour to the falls - but not a blue, see neglecta. 
BIS  British Iris Society. For membership details and application form write to Clive Russell, c/o The Iris Garden, enclosing s.a.e. or e-mail theirisgarden@aol.com 
blend  where two or more colours blend into each other. 
DM Dykes Medal - top award for irises. Four presented annually, one each in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. 
ENM  Eric Nies Medal - top award in the USA for spurias
falls  the 3 pendant petals 
HM  Honourable Mention - the first step on the awards ladder. 
hybridizer  the person who pollinated one iris with another, resulting in a new variety 
IB  Intermediate Bearded - grow between 41cm (16") and 70cm (27.5"). 
JIC  Joint Iris Committee - equal representation by members of the BIS and RHS who select for, and judge iris on trial 
KM  Knowlton Medal - top award for BB's in USA. 
LA Louisiana - beardless iris, more readily available in the UK than heretofore, but if you buy them and they fail, do not be surprised, as we cannot provide the climactic conditions they need to survive and thrive. 
lace  small bumps and indentations on edges of standards & falls 
MWM Morgan-Wood Medal - top award in the USA for Siberians
MTB Miniature Tall Bearded, sometimes called Table Iris. They grow between 41cm (16") and 70cm (27.5"). 
neglecta  blue iris where the standards are lighter than the falls - or vice versa for a reverse neglecta. 
plicata  patterning of dots which merge into solid colour at edges 
registration  where an iris name has been accepted by the international registrar 
RHS  Royal Horticultural Society 
SA  Space Ager - has protuberances from the end of the beard. 
SDB Standard Dwarf Bearded growing between 20cm (8") and 41cm (16")
SM  Sass Medal - top award in USA for IB's. 
standards  the 3 upright petals 
TB  Tall Bearded - over 27.5" high 
/AU Award made in Australia
/UK  Award made in the United Kingdom 
/US  Award made in the USA 
variegata  variety with yellow or gold standards and maroon or brown falls. 
Wisley  RHS garden where rhizomatous iris are to be seen in ongoing trials. For further information telephone the trials office on 01483 224234 
WC  Walther Cup - annual award for most HM/US votes in any category
WM Wister Medal. Awarded annually in the USA for the 3 best TB's
WWM  Williamson-White Medal - top award in the USA for MTB's.