Suncatha 2439

Cape Periwinkle

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Crown Rose' and 'Suncatha 224' (Soiree Kawaii Pink)

Summary: The plants of 'Suncatha 2439' have a bushy-rounded growth habit and are smaller than the plants of 'Crown Rose', which have an upright-bushy growth habit. The internode length on the stem of 'Suncatha 2439' is shorter than the internode length of 'Crown Rose'. The middle third of the stem of 'Suncatha 2439' is of medium thickness while it is thick for 'Crown Rose'. The leaf of 'Suncatha 2439' is elliptic and smaller than the leaf of both reference varieties. In cross-section, the leaf of 'Suncatha 2439' is flat whereas it is convex for 'Crown Rose'. The corolla tube of 'Suncatha 2439' is shorter than the corolla tube of 'Crown Rose'. The corolla of 'Suncatha 2439' is smaller in diameter than the corolla of both reference varieties. The flower colour group of 'Suncatha 2439' is purple whereas the flower colour group of 'Crown Rose' is red-purple and that of 'Suncatha 224' is pink. The corolla lobe of 'Suncatha 2439' is obovate in shape and smaller than the corolla lobe of 'Crown Rose', which is obdeltate to obtrullate shaped. At the apical zone, the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Suncatha 2439' is purple whereas the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Crown Rose' is purple red with purple tones and that of 'Suncatha 224' is lighter purple red. At the basal zone, the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Suncatha 2439' is purple to darker purple towards the eye whereas the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'Crown Rose' is purple and that of 'Suncatha 224' is purple red. The eye of the corolla of 'Suncatha 2439' is dark purple red whereas the eye of the corolla of 'Crown Rose' is yellow green and the eye of 'Suncatha 224' is purple red.

Description:

PLANT: annual, bushy-rounded growth habit
STEM: medium thickness at middle third, medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration

PETIOLE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration at base
LEAF BLADE: elliptic shape, flat in cross-section, acute apex with mucronate tip, no variegation, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side, absent or weak undulation of margin, no glandular stickiness, medium density pubescence of upper side, medium to dense pubescence of lower side, medium to dark green upper side

FLOWERING: begins very early
PEDICEL: absent
CALYX: absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: star-shaped, bicolour type, purple colour group, no overlapping of lobe margins
COROLLA LOBE: obovate shape, broad acute apex with cuspidate tip, eye colour pattern, no fringe along margin
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): purple (RHS N74B) at apical zone, purple (RHS N74B) to darker purple (RHS N74A) at basal zone towards eye
COROLLA LOBE (OUTER SIDE): white (RHS N155B) with blue pink (RHS N66D) tones at the apex, light blue violet (RHS 69D) at basal zone
COROLLA EYE (INNER SIDE): dark purple red (RHS 59A)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Suncatha 2439' originated from a controlled cross made in September 2011 at Yame, Fukuoka, Japan between the proprietary Catharanthus variety 'FS22-9', as the female parent, and 'CL', as the male parent. Resulting seeds from the cross were germinated and grown to maturity. In February 2012, one plant was selected for its growth habit and flower colour. This plant was further propagated by cuttings, grown in pots and included in a trial conducted from July 2012 to June 2013. The new variety was named 'Suncatha 2439'.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Suncatha 2439' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2017 at BioFlora, Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 13 cm pots on June 4, 2017. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety on July 14, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Suncatha 2439' with reference varieties 'Crown Rose' and 'Suncatha 224'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Internode length of flowering stem (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Corolla diameter (cm)

Corolla tube length (cm)

Corolla lobe length (cm)

Corolla lobe width (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of eye zone of corolla (RHS)

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Cape Periwinkle: 'Suncatha 2439' (left) with reference varieties 'Crown Rose' (centre) and 'Suncatha 224' (right)

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Cape Periwinkle: 'Suncatha 2439' (left) with reference varieties 'Crown Rose' (centre) and 'Suncatha 224' (right)

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Cape Periwinkle: 'Suncatha 2439' (left) with reference varieties 'Crown Rose' (centre) and 'Suncatha 224' (right)