Cut Chrysanthemums

History
The florists chrysanthemums is a complex hybrid that, if grown from seed, segregates into many diverse flower forms. most of the species in the lineage of present day cultivars are from China. These include Chrysanthemums indium(a yellow single), C.morifolium(lilac and rose colors), and the Chusan daisy (species unknown); the letter was brought to England in 1843 by Robert Fortune and is thought to be one of parents spray or pompon chrysanthemums. Even before this dtae the British and Dutch were hybridizing crrysanthemums. In The United State, Elmer D.Smith began hybridizing for the florists trade in 1889. He hybridized and named over 500 cultivar(Cathey,1969;Langhans,1964;Laurie et al.,1979).
Commercial hybidization to improve cultivars continues today in America, Asia, and Europe. Selection is based not only on flower shape and color, but also on suitability of seedlings for year-round flowering programs for cool temperature tolerance and for postharvestqualities.