Form

FORM

All dahlias in classes 01 through 615 and 781-795: Formal Decorative, Informal Decorative, Semi-Cactus, Cactus, Incurved Cactus, Laciniated, Ball, Miniature Ball, Pompon, Stellar, Waterlily and Novelty Double are fully double with the central rays spirally displayed. The mature petals that determine the size of the dahlia determine the dahlia formation.

01—15 FORMAL DECORATIVE Dahlias: Ray florets are generally flat, broad, and smooth in a regular arrangement that gradually recurve toward the stem. Each ray floretrow should convey uniform and regular size arrangement with the tips preferably round or extending to a slight point. The ideal depth is three-quarters the diameter of the bloom and should not be greater than its diameter.

21—35 INFORMAL DECORATIVE Dahlias: Ray florets are twisted, curled, or wavy, and of uniform size in irregular arrangement. They may be partially involute orrevolute, but no portion should be fully revolute or involute except at the tip of the ray floret. The ideal depth is three-quarters the diameter of the bloom and should not be greater than its diameter.

41—55 SEMI-CACTUS Dahlias: Ray florets are broad at the base, straight or incurved, and reflex toward the stemin a regular and uniform arrangement. Ray florets will be revolute for approximately half their length and fully revolute (touching or overlapping)for at least one-fourth their length. The ideal depth is three-quarters the diameter of the bloom and should not be greater than its diameter

61—75 STRAIGHT CACTUS Dahlias. Ray florets are narrow at the base, straight, uniform in length and reflex toward the stem, radiating uniformly in all directions from the center. They will be revolute for the majority of their length and fully revolute (touching or overlapping) for approximately half their length. A depth of about three-quarters the diameter is ideal for this form.

61—75 INCURVED CACTUS Dahlias: Ray florets are pointed, uniform in length; they uniformly curve toward the face of the bloom, are revolute for the majority of their length and are fully revolute for at least half their length. Because ray florets curve toward the face ofthe bloom, they usually lack the depth of the preceding dahlia forms. A depth of one-half the diameter or slightly more is ideal for this form. Although the general direction of the ray floret is up and away from the stem, there may bean arc to the rays downward and then up. The involucre is rarely if ever covered.

81—95 LACINIATED Dahlias: Ray florets are split at the tip with the number and depth of the splits varying according to the size of the ray floret. The portion of the ray floret with the splits should uniformly twist or curl whether involute or revolute. The less mature ray florets should possess splits but do not have to twist or curl. In the ideal laciniated dahlia, the majority of ray florets will be uniformly arranged with a split, twist, or curlthat conveys an overall fringed or frilled effect. Ray florets, slightly involute or revolute, that split regardless of length and remain generally flat are a major fault. Ray florets with a shallow notch or cleft and possessing little twisting to the extreme portion should not be classified as laciniated. The ideal depth is three-quarters the diameter of the bloom and should never be greater than its diameter.

521—535 MINIATURE BALL Dahlias: Except for size, miniature ball and ball dahlias possess the same form

501—515 BALL Dahlias: Blooms are ball shaped with uniform florets, involute formost of their length, and fully involute for more than half the length; the ray florets reflex toward the stem. Ray floret tips in cross-section should be circular and exhibit little distortion, completely filling the floral head and are either round or blunt without notch or point.

521—535 MINIATURE BALL Dahlias: Except for size, miniature ball and ball dahlias possess the same form features.

541—555 POMPON Dahlias: The ray florets are involute for thewhole of their length and fully involute for halftheir length. Except for size, they are similar to the ball description.

561—575 STELLAR Dahlias: Ray florets break gradually from immature florets to fully developed outer ray florets. The outer florets should be narrow and involute with a slight recurve to the stem. The less mature florets should possess the same narrow and partially involute characteristic. The depth of the stellar form should be one-half to two-thirds the diameter of the bloom, the greater depth being ideal.

601—615 WATERLILY Dahlias: The bloom should be fully double and symmetrical; the sideview should be flat to saucer-shaped in arrangement, and the layer of florets should be open faced to give a delicate appearance. The center should be closed and dome-shaped breaking gradually to four to seven rows of fully developed outer florets. Outer florets should be broad and slightly cupped with rounded tips. A bloom position at 45 degrees is preferred, but a top facing bloom is acceptable. In petite waterlily cultivars(from 1 to 3 inches) in diameter, the depth should contain fewer rows of rayflorets in order to represent the waterlily form accurately. The depth should never be more than one-half the diameter of the bloom.

621—635 PEONY Dahlias: At least two, but not more than five rows of ray florets surround the disc. Ray florets are broad, generally flat to slightly cupped and evenly spaced in a flat plane. Ray florets are equal or nearly equal in length from the bloom face to the back, not recurving or reflexing to the stem. Ray florets adjacent to the disc may be twisted or curled, but if present should be symmetrically arranged around the disc. Ideal depth is less than one-third the diameter. Disc florets may show zero to two rows of pollen.

641—655 ANEMONE Dahlias: One or more rows of ray florets surround a center of elongated tubular disc florets.The outer ray florets should be equal in shape, size, and formation, generally flat with rounded tips, and regularly arranged around the disc florets. Greater visibility of the ray florets from the face is preferred. The tubular disc florets should be fully developed and present a domed, pincushion appearance.

661—675 COLLARETTE Dahlias: A bloom will have a single row of flat or slightly cupped ray florets arranged in a flat plane; the ray florets will uniformly overlap, preferably in the same direction with no gaps. The petaloids surrounding thedisc should be approximately one-half to two-thirds the length of the rayflorets. Eight ray florets are most desirable. A round floret tip is preferred.The disc flower should contain evidence of pollen with up to three rowsdesirable.

701—715 SINGLE Dahlias: The bloom has a single row of flat or slightly cupped ray florets arranged in a flat plane. They uniformly overlap, preferably in the same direction with no gaps. Eight ray florets are most desirable. Disc flowers with up to three rows of pollen are desirable. A round floret tip is preferred. The bloom is over two inches in diameter.

721—735 MIGNON SINGLE Dahlias: Mignon single dahlias possess the same formation as single dahlias except they have round ray floret tips. Disc flowers should have no more than two rows of pollen. The bloom is under two inches in diameter.

741—755 ORCHID Dahlias: A single row of uniform, evenly spaced ray florets arranged in a flat plane surround the disc flowers. The ray florets should be straight and involute for two-thirds or more of their length and fully involute for at least one-third their length. Eight ray florets are most desirable. Disc flowers with up to three rows of pollen are desirable.

761—775 NOVELTY OPEN: Dahlias with characteristics distinct and different from the present classifications are classified as novelty dahlias. The center should be openwith the disc center in proper proportion to the ray florets.

781—795 NOVELTY FULLY DOUBLE: Dahlias with characteristics distinct and different from the present classifications are classified as novelty dahlias. The center should be closed.

Copyright © 1995 - 2008 Andrew G. Miller