RIKAV18302

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'USBENAL8' (Superbena Dark Blue)

Summary: The plants of 'RIKAV18302' are narrower with a longer leaf and larger corolla diameter than the plants of 'USBENAL8'. The curvature of the longitudinal axis of the corolla lobe is incurved for 'RIKAV18302' while there is no curvature of the corolla lobe for 'USBENAL8'. The colour of the tip of the hairs protruding from the corolla tube of 'RIKAV18302' is whitish purple with a patch of purple whereas the tip of the hairs protruding from the corolla tube of 'USBENAL8' is purple. The eye of the corolla of 'RIKAV18302' is whitish purple and medium to large in diameter whereas the eye of the corolla of 'USBENAL8' is purple and very small to small in diameter.

Description:

PLANT: creeping growth habit
STEM: medium strength of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: ovate, no divisions, crenate and dentate incisions of margin, medium green on upper side, no anthocyanin colouration on upper side

INFLORESCENCE: shape in profile is broad obovate
CALYX: anthocyanin colouration distributed on teeth only
COROLLA: violet (RHS N82A) on inner side when newly open, violet (RHS N82A) fading to blue violet (RHS 90C) on inner side when fully open, no colour pattern on inner side, no secondary colour on inner side, colour on inner side is weakly fading with age
COROLLA LOBE: arrangement ranges from touching to overlapping, longitudinal axis is incurved, medium strength of undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: tip of protruding hairs is whitish purple with patch of purple
COROLLA EYE: medium to large diameter, whitish purple

Origin & Breeding History: 'RIKAV18302' was developed by the breeder, Rika Tsutumi, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, as part of a controlled breeding program for Plant 21 LLC. It originated from a cross conducted on May 5, 2010 between the proprietary seedling designated '09V852-01' as the female parent, and the variety 'USBENAL8' (Superbena Dark Blue) as the male parent. 'RIKAV18302' was selected from the resulting progeny in Bonsall, California, USA, on June 9, 2011, based on its plant growth habit and vigour, flower size, good branching, and strong resistance to powdery mildew. 'RIKAV18302' was first propagated by vegetative cuttings on June 10, 2011.

Tests & Trials: The trial for 'RIKAV18302 was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2013 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 11, 2013. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on May 28, 2013. Colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'RIKAV18302' with reference variety 'USBENAL8'

Plant width (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Corolla diameter (cm)

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Verbena: 'RIKAV18302' (left) with reference variety 'USBENAL8' (right)

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Verbena: 'RIKAV18302' (left) with reference variety 'USBENAL8' (right)

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Verbena: 'RIKAV18302' (left) with reference variety 'USBENAL8' (right)