Pink Truffles

Baptisia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Cherries Jubilee'

Summary: The plants of 'Pink Truffles' are taller than the plants of 'Cherries Jubilee'. The stem of 'Pink Truffles' has a large diameter whereas the stem of 'Cherries Jubilee' has a medium diameter. The leaf of 'Pink Truffles' is larger than the leaf of 'Cherries Jubilee'. The inflorescence of 'Pink Truffles' is longer than the inflorescence of 'Cherries Jubilee'. The inner and outer side of the standard is violet to light blue violet for 'Pink Truffles' whereas the inner and outer side of the standard for 'Cherries Jubilee' is brown purple. The outer side of the wing is violet to light blue violet for 'Pink Truffles' whereas the outer side of the wing for 'Cherries Jubilee' is brown purple. The outer side of the keel is violet to light yellow for 'Pink Truffles' whereas the outer side of the keel for 'Cherries Jubilee' is yellow.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated, perennial, upright-bushy and arching growth habit, medium degree of branching
STEM: light green, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, large diameter, smooth shape

PETIOLE: present
LEAF: alternate arrangement along stem, trifoliate type, weak glaucosity on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, light green on upper and lower side, no variegation
LEAFLET: oblanceolate shape, obtuse apex, attenuate base, entire margin

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: terminal raceme type, erect attitude
COROLLA: partially fused arrangement of lobes, medium length and width, papilionaceous shape, absent or very weak undulation of margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on inner and outer sides, inner and outer side of standard is violet (RHS 75A) to light blue violet (RHS 76B/C), outer side of wing is violet (RHS 75A) to light blue violet (RHS 76B/C), outer side of keel is light yellow (RHS 11B/C)
FLOWERING PERIOD: flowers once early in the season for a short to medium length of time

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pink Truffles' originated from an isolation block line breeding method conducted in 2009 in Waseca, Minnesota, USA. The female or seed parent was Baptisia australis and pollen parent was from an isolation block containing advanced hybrids of B. minor, B. sphaerocarpa, B. alba, or B. cinerea. The resulting seeds were collected and sown in Zeeland, Michigan, USA in the fall of 2009. In 2012, 'Pink Truffles' was selected for its flower colour and plant growth habit. 'Pink Truffles' is primarily propagated asexually using stem cuttings.

Tests & Trials:
The comparative trial for 'Pink Truffles' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2015 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. There were 15 plants of the candidate variety and reference variety. Each plant was grown in a 23 cm diameter pot, one plant per pot with 45 cm spacing between the pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Pink Truffles' with reference variety 'Cherries Jubilee'

Plant Height (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

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Baptisia: 'Pink Truffles' (right) with reference variety 'Cherries Jubilee' (left)

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Baptisia: 'Pink Truffles' (right) with reference variety 'Cherries Jubilee' (left)