Curtina

Curcuma

Variety Description

Description:

PLANT: corm-shaped rhizomes with shoots, unbranched, up to 65-70 cm tall

LEAF: stem-clasping, erect, 45-50 cm long, up to 5 cm broad
LEAF BLADE: narrow elliptic, 25 cm long, upper side dull brown green (RHS 137B-C) with red purple anthocyanin stripe on main vein, lighter green on lower side

INFLORESCENCE: spike
PEDUNCLE: firm, up to 50-55 cm long
SPIKE: up to 15 cm long, up to 9 cm broad (tuft), several flowers in axil, conspicuous bracts
LOWER BRACTS: up to 8-9 in number, cup-shaped, lateral margins adnate to the stem, light to medium green with purple flush
UPPER BRACTS: up to 8 in number, sterile, large, form large tuft at top of stem, purple (RHS 71A-B) at top with purple brown flush
FLOWER: medium size compared to bracts, 3.5 by 2 cm
CALYX: membranous, white-blue
COROLLA: 3 lobes, upper lobe largest and broad obovate, dark violet (RHS 83A) with small orange yellow stripe along median bordered by two narrow white-blue stripes, other lobes white-blue

Origin & Breeding History: 'Curtina' originated from a controlled cross between the female parent proprietary seedling designated 1998248-03 and the male parent proprietary seedling designated 1998231-02. The cross was conducted by the breeder, Leonardus Johannes Maria van der Knaap, in De Lier, The Netherlands on May 23, 2001. The new variety was selected on June 2, 2004 based on flower colour, leaf colour and suitability to grow as pot plant. 'Curtina' was first propagated in-vitro on July 16, 2003 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The detailed description of 'Curtina' is based on the UPOV report of Technical Examination, reference number 2004/1516, purchased from the Community Plant Variety Office, Angers, France. The trials were conducted by Naktuinbouw in Wageningen, The Netherlands, in 2005. Colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

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Curcuma: 'Curtina'