Brapurblu

Brachyscome

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bramipuro' and 'Multifida Blue'

Summary: 'Brapurblu' has smaller plants than 'Multifida Blue' and larger flower heads than 'Bramipuro'. On the first day of opening, the upper side of the ray floret is bluer violet for 'Brapurblu' than 'Bramipuro' which is redder violet and 'Multifida Blue' which is lighter blue violet. 'Brapurblu' has fewer ray florets per flower head than 'Multifida Blue'.

Description:

PLANT: bushy and upright growth habit, medium number of stems, dense

LEAF: divided along full length, depth of divisions is greater than two thirds from margin to mid-rib, regularity of lobing is uniform
LEAF LOBE: width of broadest lobe is narrow, linear to oblanceolate shape, pointed apex, absent or very weak secondary divisions

FLOWER STEM: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER BUD: violet (RHS N82C-D)
FLOWER HEAD: positioned moderately above foliage, average of 25.0 ray florets per flower head
DISC: yellow (duller and greener than RHS 7B) before opening of disc florets, yellow (RHS 7A) when all disc florets open, less than one third diameter of flower head
RAY FLORET: oblanceolate shape, upper side is violet on first day of opening, upper side fades to violet to blue violet (RHS N88C/N87C) after first day of opening and fades further to blue violet (RHS N88C-D) with age

Origin & Breeding History: 'Brapurblu' was developed by the breeder, D. van Kleinwee, an employee of Syngenta Seeds B.V. in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. It originated from a cross made in 2002 between the female parent designated 'D3070-3' and mixed pollen from unidentified male Brachyscome multifida plants. 'Brapurblu' was selected from the resultant progeny as a single plant in 2003. In 2004, it was tested as a clone based on criteria for greenhouse and field performance, earliness, branching and foliage colour. Also in 2004, 'Brapurblu' was tested for heat and drought stress resistance in Sarrians, Southern France.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Brapurblu' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2008 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants per variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11.5 cm pots on May 13, 2008. Measured characteristics were based on measurements taken from 10 plants or parts of plants on June 24, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Brapurblu' with reference varieties 'Bramipuro' and 'Multifida Blue'

Plant height including flowers (cm)

Plant width including flowers (cm)

Flower head diameter (cm)

Colour of ray floret on first day of opening (RHS)

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Brachyscome: 'Brapurblu' (left) with reference varieties 'Bramipuro' (centre) and 'Multifida Blue' (right)

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Brachyscome: 'Brapurblu' (left) with reference varieties 'Bramipuro' (centre) and 'Multifida Blue' (right)