Carsca

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Scarlena' (Tukana Scarlet)

Summary: Plants of 'Carsca' have a creeping growth habit, whereas plants of 'Scarlena' are upright to semi-upright. The tip of the protruding hair of the corolla tube is lighter in 'Carsca' than in 'Scarlena'. The colour of the upper side of the corolla lobes of 'Carsca' is even, whereas it is shaded and lighter at the apex for 'Scarlena'.

Description:

PLANT: creeping, narrow to medium in width

STEM: light to medium green, dense pubescence, weak anthocyanin on margin edge only

LEAF: medium in length, medium in width
LEAF BLADE: ovate, cuneate to truncate base, absence of leaf blade divisions, crenate to dentate margin, medium green, no anthocyanin
PETIOLE: medium in length

INFLORESCENCE: medium in diameter, broad ovate in profile
CALYX: anthocyanin on teeth only
COROLLA: medium in diameter, one-coloured, even, red, weakly fading with age
COROLLA LOBES: free to touching, straight to slightly recurved, moderate undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: protruding hair white in colour
COROLLA EYE ZONE: absent.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Carsca' was developed in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, by the breeder Har Stemkens, an employee of Syngenta Seeds B.V. The new variety originated from a cross made in August 2000 in Enkhuizen, between the female parent 'B0977-1' and the male parent 'C1218-1'. The new variety was selected from the resulting progeny in May 2001, based on criteria for early flowering, flower colour and plant habit. The variety has been propagated asexually through vegetative cuttings since June 2001.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Carsca' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring and summer of 2006, at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 10 cm pots on April 18, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 17 to 20, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Carsca' with reference variety 'Scarlena'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (mm)

Petiole length (mm)

Colour on upper side of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'Carsca' (left) with reference variety 'Scarlena' (right)