Eckadire

Poinsettia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Eckalix', 'Freedom Red' and 'Eckada'

Summary: 'Eckadire' produces taller and wider plants with more branches than 'Eckalix'. 'Eckadire' is shorter than 'Eckada'. The leaf blades of 'Eckadire' are longer than those of 'Freedom Red' and 'Eckalix' and wider than those of the 'Eckalix'. Development of the leaf lobes for 'Eckadire' is weak to moderate while it is moderate to strong for 'Eckada'. 'Eckadire' has longer petioles than the reference varieties. Development of the bract lobes for 'Eckadire' is weak to moderate while it is very weak to weak for 'Eckalix'. Initiation of bract colour for 'Eckadire' is mid-season while it is early for 'Freedom Red'. 'Eckadire' has more narrow bracts than 'Freedom Red'. The colour of the glands of the cyathium for 'Eckadire' is greenish-yellow while it is yellow for 'Eckalix'.

Description:

'Eckadire' is a poinsettia variety with weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the stem. The broad ovate shaped leaves have a round-shaped base. 'Eckadire' has no anthocyanin colouration on the upper and lower sides of the leaf blade. There is absent to very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the veins on the upper and lower sides of the leaf blade. There is weak to moderate leaf lobe development and shape of the sinus between the lobes is rounded. Incision of the leaf blade margin is absent. Intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the petiole is moderate on the upper side and weak to moderate on the lower side.

'Eckadire' produces many uniform coloured, red bracts, with initiation of colour occurring mid-season. Development of lobes on the bracts is weak to moderate and the shape of the sinus between the lobes is rounded. Incision of the bract margin is absent. There is no folding, curving or twisting of the bracts. The broad ovate shaped bracts have a rounded base and show weak rugosity between the veins. Time of opening of the first three cyathia is mid-season. The glands of the cyathium are greenish-yellow in colour and medium in size. There is moderate intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the margins of the glands.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Eckadire' was discovered at the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California, in December of 1998. The variety was selected as a mid-season flowering plant with dark red bracts and dark green leafs.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Eckadire' were conducted at Ed Sobkowich Greenhouses, Grimsby, Ontario in the fall/winter of 2000. The trial consisted of ten plants of each variety grown in a greenhouse. The pots were spaced approximately 0.4 metres apart. All measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Eckadire' with reference varieties 'Eckalix', 'Freedom Red' and 'Eckada'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Number of branches

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of bract (RHS)

Bract width (cm)