Sevamil

Osteospermum

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Seikilrem' and 'Beira'

Summary: 'Sevamil' has a taller plant height, longer shoots and longer peduncles than the reference varieties. 'Sevamil' has white flowers while 'Seikilrem' has yellow flowers. 'Sevamil' flowers earlier than the reference varieties.

Description:

The shoots of 'Sevamil' have a semi-erect to horizontal attitude. The stems have no anthocyanin colouration. The leaves have very weak lobing and are medium green in colour with no variegation.

'Sevamil' flowers very early (week 11). The inflorescence has two complete ray floret whorls. The ray florets are elliptic in shape. The upper sides of the ray florets are white in colour with a purple band at the base. The lower sides of the ray florets are yellowish-brown in colour and the disc is purplish-brown.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sevamil' was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of the osteospermum variety 'Seikilrem'. The new variety was discovered and selected by the breeder in June, 2000 based on its unique ivory coloured flowers. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in August, 2000 in Denmark.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Sevamil' were conducted in a polyhouse during the winter-spring of 2003, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials included 15 plants per variety. Rooted cuttings were planted in 11.5 cm pots on February 18, 2003. Measured characteristics were based on ten measurements and colour determinations were made using the 2001 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Sevamil' with reference varieties 'Seikilrem' and 'Beira'

Plant height (cm)

Shoot length (cm)

Peduncle length (cm)

Colour of upper side of ray floret (RHS)