Dark Yochatham

Chrysanthemum

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Deep Yopresidio' (Deep Presidio)

Summary: The leaf of 'Dark Yochatham' is shorter than the leaf of 'Deep Yopresidio'. The flower head of 'Dark Yochatham' is smaller in diameter than the flower head of 'Deep Yopresidio'. The ray floret of 'Dark Yochatham' is shorter in length than the ray floret of 'Deep Yopresidio'.

Description:

PLANT: bushy type, upright growth habit, green stem

PETIOLE: moderately upwards attitude, medium length relative to leaf length
LEAF: terminal lobe long relative to leaf length, lowest lateral sinus medium to deep with parallel to converging margins, base mainly truncate, upper side medium to dark green with no glossiness, medium number of deep margin indentations

FLOWER: many flower heads per plant, outer side of bud violet (RHS 75B), double head type
RAY FLORETS: dense, predominantly ligulate type, upper surface with two keels, short corolla tube, mostly flat to weakly convex in cross section at widest point, flat margin, straight along longitudinal axis, ray florets from inner rows with weak incurving along longitudinal axis at distal half, tip emarginate to dentate
RAY FLORET - INNER SIDE: violet (RHS 75B), secondary colour darker violet (RHS 75A) in a mottled pattern throughout with blue pink (RHS N74D/72D) at base, inner rows blue pink (RHS N74D) with darker blue pink (RHS 72D) at veins
RAY FLORET - OUTER SIDE: violet (RHS 75C) to light blue violet (RHS 76C).

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Dark Yochatham' originated from a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of the parent variety 'Yochatham'. The variety was discovered and selected by the breeder in March 2005 in Fort Myers, Florida, USA. Selection was based on criteria for compact growth habit, branching, flowering response time, flower form and colour, excellent flower production and suitability for centre bud production. Asexual reproduction by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in Fort Myers, Florida in June 2005.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Dark Yochatham' were conducted in a greenhouse trial during the Fall of 2011 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. On August 8, 2011, fifty unrooted cuttings were directly stuck into 15 cm pots, with 5 cuttings per pot. The trial included a total of 10 pots of each variety spaced 30 cm apart. Plants were pinched once prior to short day treatment. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on November 9, 2011. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Dark Yochatham' with reference variety 'Deep Yopresidio'

Leaf length (cm)

Flower head diameter (cm)

Ray floret length (cm)

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Chrysanthemum: 'Dark Yochatham' (left) with reference variety 'Deep Yopresidio' (right)

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Chrysanthemum: 'Dark Yochatham' (left) with reference variety 'Deep Yopresidio' (right)