Imprkalip

Euphorbia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Martin's Spurge' and 'Purpurea' (Purple Wood Spurge)

Summary: 'Imprkalip' has longer leaves than 'Martin's Spurge' and narrower leaves than 'Purpurea'. The stems of 'Imprkalip' are light green with absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration while those of 'Martin's Spurge' are red brown with moderate anthocyanin and those of 'Purpurea' are red with strong anthocyanin. 'Imprkalip' has denser pubescence of the stem and the upper and lower sides of the leaf blade than 'Purpurea'. The upper side of the leaf blade for 'Imprkalip' has denser pubescence than that of 'Martin's Spurge'. The leaf blades of 'Imprkalip' are medium green on the upper side and light green on the lower side while those of 'Purpurea' are dark blue green on the upper side and medium green on the lower side. During the autumn season, 'Imprkalip' has weaker anthocyanin colouration than 'Purpurea' on both the upper and lower sides of newly opened leaves and leaves located in the upper parts of the plant.

Description:

'Imprkalip' is a vegetatively propagated, tender perennial Euphorbia variety with bushy rounded plant growth habit. The plants have moderate to dense branching. The stems are thin to medium in thickness and smooth with moderate to dense pubescence. They are light green with absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration.

The leaves of 'Imprkalip' are simple and distributed in a whorled or alternate arrangement along the stem. The leaf blade is oblanceolate in shape with an acute apex, attenuate base and entire margin. Pubescence of the leaf blade is strong on both the upper and lower sides. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green and glaucosity is present. The lower side of the leaf blade is light green with absent to weak anthocyanin on newly opened leaves and leaves in the upper parts of the plant. There is a petiole present.

In autumn, the main colour of the leaf blade is dark green on both the upper and lower sides. Also at this time, anthocyanin colouration of newly opened leaves or leaves located in the upper parts of the plant is absent on both the upper and lower sides.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Imprkalip' originated as a clonal selection of the variety 'Kalipso' made in May of 2002. This cross was part of a breeding program at InnovaPlant GmbH & Co. KG, in Gensingen, Germany with the objective of developing new, compact Euphorbia varieties with interesting foliage and flower characteristics which are adaptable to container planting. 'Imprkalip' was selected by the breeder based on its compact plant habit and foliage characteristics.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Imprkalip' was conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2005. The trial included 15 plants of the each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 6 inch pots on June 15, 2005. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Imprkalip' with reference varieties 'Martin's Spurge' and 'Purpurea'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of lower side of leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of upper side of leaf blade in autumn (RHS)

Colour of lower side of leaf blade in autumn (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Euphorbia: 'Imprkalip' (left) with reference varieties 'Martin's Spurge' (centre) and 'Purpurea' (right)