header

UNUSUAL FORM: (Official AHS Definition page here.)

A class of daylilies based exclusively on form, not on color or color patterns. An Unusual Form must display Unusual Form characteristics on at least 3 petals or 3 sepals.

Unusual Forms is made up of 3 types of flowers, based exclusively on their tepal (petal and sepal) shapes. These include: Crispate, Cascade and Spatulate forms.

1. Crispates - The cross section of a daylily tepal resembles a corrugated box, smooth on top and bottom separated by the "corrugated" center. If, for example, the sun warms the cells on the upper layer of the tepal more quickly than it does those on the lower layer, they expand more rapidly than the cells on the lower layer and therefore cause the tepal to twist fold or curl.

There are three categories of Crispates:

Pinched Crispates:
Definition; Pinching - Floral segments have sharp folds giving a pinched or folded effect.
pinched
pinched

This is the perfect example of a Pinched Crispate. Petals are severely pinched or folded, with the crease running back to the throat. The sepals are nicely curled.
FIRE ARROW
- Webster.

Photo by Richard Webster, used with permission.

This is a Pinched Crispate; even though the pinching occures only on the outer 1/3 of the petal, it is clearly pinched. That qualifies it as a Pinched Crispate.
DUNE NEEDLEPOINT - Pauley
Photo by Bob Schwarz, used with permission.

Twisted/Curled Crispates
Definition: Twisting - Floral segments present a corkscrew or pinwheel effect

twisted crispate

The top and lower right petal and bottom sepal show the twisting typical of this type of Unusual Form. Notice the distinct curling of the other two sepals.
HURRICANE BOB - Schwarz.
Photo by Bob Schwarz, used with permission.

Quilled Crispates
Definition: Quilling - Floral segments turn upon themselves along their lengths to form a tubular shape.

quilled

The sepals on this flower show the folding back along the length of the segment that characterizes this Unusual Form.
QUIRKY - Couturier
Photo by Geraldine Couturier, used with permission.


2. Cascades Definition: Cascading/Curling - Narrow florals segments with pronounced curling or cascading (like in a waterfall) segments which revolve upon themselves in the manner of a wood shaving.
cascade
cascade

The tepals of a Cascade should really cascade like a waterfall.

The straplike segments of this flower are examples of what a cascade should look like. ORCHID CORSAGE, Saxton.
Photo by Bob Schwarz, used with permission.

The floral segments here descend nearly to where the tepals separate at the base of the blossom. ORCHID CORSAGE
Photo by Bob Schwarz, used with permission
.

3. Spatulates Definition: Floral segments markedly wider at the end like a kitchen spatula.

spatulate
spatulate

The petals are Spatulate. The sepals are partially Quilled and Curled at the tips. ASTERISK, Lambert.

This is a perfect example of the Spatulate form, long petals with the widest part of the floral segment more than half way from the center. SPOONER, Wilson.
Photo by Casey Schott, used with permission.

Photo by Bob Schwarz, used with permission.

Unusual Forms may bloom as pure examples of their kind, but very often they combine more than one feature.

twisted cascase
reflex spatulate

Twisted Cascade: - puts a twist into the Cascade form. It is an example of the fact that Unusual Forms often display more than one UF characteristic.
LOLA BRANHAM, Burkey
Photo by Clayton Burkey, used with permission.

Spatulates often reflex (curl back on themselves) This is a reflexed Spatulate. It is also a Cockeral as the three quilled sepals show.
LAVENDAR HANDLEBARS, Roberts
Photo by Bob Schwarz, used with permission.


Many Unusual Forms are variable, displaying different forms or combinations of forms each day they open.
variable 2
variable

Unusual Forms may bloom as pure examples of their kind, but very often they combine more than one feature.

Here this cultivar blooms as a Pinched Crispate. This is a Variable Crispate.
ROSY LIGHTS, Wilson

Here it displays Twisting, Curling, Quilling, and Pinching.


Return to Terms Page

Return to Daylily Image Map

Return to AHS Home Page


© Copyright 2000, 2007 by the American Hemerocallis Society, Inc.
footer