SAKMEC002

Mecardonia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'USMECA8205' (Gold Dust)

Summary: The plants of 'SAKMEC002' are shorter with shorter shoots than the plants of 'USMECA8205'. The leaf blade of 'SAKMEC002' is lighter green and broader than the leaf blade of 'USMECA8205'. The pedicel of 'SAKMEC002' is thicker than the pedicel of 'USMECA8205'. The corolla of 'SAKMEC002' is broader than the corolla of 'USMECA8205'. The markings on the inner side of the corolla are moderately to strongly conspicuous for 'SAKMEC002' while the markings of 'USMECA8205' are weakly to moderately conspicuous. The arrangement of the corolla lobes of 'SAKMEC002' is predominantly not touching while the corolla lobes of 'USMECA8205' are predominantly touching and overlapping. The colour of the inner side of the upper and lower corolla lobes of 'SAKMEC002' is yellow whereas the upper and lower corolla lobes of 'USMECA8205' are lighter yellow.

Description:

PLANT: semi-drooping / trailing growth habit, dense branching
STEM: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, no wings

LEAF: simple form
LEAF BLADE: ovate shape, dentate incisions of margin, medium number of incisions of margin, no variegation, medium green on upper side, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper side

PEDICEL: thick, absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of pedicels below flower bud
COROLLA: arrangement of corolla lobes is predominantly not touching
COROLLA LOBE: weak reflexing of margin, inner side of upper and lower lobes is yellow, medium number of moderately to strongly conspicuous markings on inner side of upper lobe, markings on inner side of upper lobe are red brown and in a forked design along veins

Origin & Breeding History: 'SAKMEC002' was developed by the breeder, Dr. Julian Greppi, an employee of the Instituto de Floricultura in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It originated from a hybridization conducted in October 2008 between a proprietary Mecardonia procumbens var. tenella line designated 'AM5-264' as the female parent, and a proprietary Mecardonia procumbens var. flagellaris line designated '05-25'. The seed resulting from this cross was collected and sown in a greenhouse in March 2009. The resultant seedlings were transplanted in a field trial where they were evaluated during the spring and summer of 2009 and 2010. In June 2010, the breeder selected one plant based on its yellow flower colour, large flower size, and compact plant growth habit, and gave it the experimental designation 'G2010-37'. In late September 2010, once it was established that the distinct characteristics of 'G2010-37' were stable; this selection was named 'SAKMEC002'.

Tests & Trials: The PBR comparative trial of 'SAKMEC002' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2014 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm diameter pots on April 28, 2014. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on June 4, 2014. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SAKMEC002' with reference variety 'USMECA8205'

Plant height (cm)

Shoot length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Corolla width (mm)

Colour of inner side of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Mecardonia: 'SAKMEC002' (left) with reference variety 'USMECA8205' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Mecardonia: 'SAKMEC002' (left) with reference variety 'USMECA8205' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Mecardonia: 'SAKMEC002' (left) with reference variety 'USMECA8205' (right)