Balaupea

Coleus

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Ducksfoot Yellow'

Summary: 'Balaupea' has larger leaves, longer petioles, longer inflorescences and longer flowers than 'Ducksfoot Yellow'. The veins on the upper side of the leaf blades of 'Balaupea' are dark purple red to purple, whereas they are purple red with red tones for 'Ducksfoot Yellow'. The anthocyanin colouration of the inflorescence stem is absent for 'Balaupea', whereas it is weak to moderate for Ducksfoot Yellow'.

Description:

'Balaupea' is a vegetatively propagated annual coleus variety with a bushy-rounded growth habit and a moderate to high degree of branching. The stems are of medium thickness, medium green in colour with absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration concentrated at the leaf nodes, medium to dense pubescence, and edged in shape. The leaves are simple and opposite. The leaf blades are elliptic to obovate, nearly rhomboidal in shape. They have an acute apex with a blunt tip and a cuneate to attenuate base. The leaf blade margins are deeply lobed. Pubescence of the leaf blade is moderate on the upper side and moderate to strong on the lower side. The leaf blades are variegated and have dark purple red to purple veins, grey brown to dark brown interveinal area and a brown green margin. The overall colour of the lower side of the leaf blades is brown green, with a leaf base that can be light red pink. The petiole has no anthocyanin colouration.

The inflorescences of 'Balaupea' have a moderate flower density and a yellow to light green stem with no anthocyanin colouration. The upper lobe of the flower is white with a light violet blue margin and the lower lobe is short and violet blue with a light violet blue margin.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balaupea' originated from a controlled breeding program conducted at Cartago, Costa Rica, in January 2002 . The female parent was variety 'Duck's Foot' and the male parent was variety 'Wizard'. The initial selection of 'Balaupea' was made in August 2002. Further propagation has been by vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted in a poly house in St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2005. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties which were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 6 inch pots on April 28, 2005. Observations and measurements were taken from ten plants of each variety. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balaupea' with reference variety 'Ducksfoot Yellow'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of lower side of leaf blade (RHS)

Petiole length (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Flower length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Coleus: 'Balaupea' (left) with reference variety 'Ducksfoot Yellow' (right)