Osnewi

Osteospermum

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Osjamwhit' (Soprano White Improved)

Summary: Plants of 'Osnewi' have longer peduncles and smaller leaves than plants of 'Osjamwhit'.

Description:

PLANT: erect shoots with weak anthocyanin

LEAF: elliptic in shape, very weak to weak degree of lobing, no variegation, medium green in colour on the upper side

FLOWER: begins very early, one or two complete ray floret whorls, presence of incomplete ray floret whorls, with dense pubescence on the calyx
RAY FLORET: oblanceolate in shape, with an obtuse apex, no rolling on the longitudinal margins, horizontal in attitude, white on the upper side and light brown purple on the lower side
DISC: violet before dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Osnewi' was developed by the breeder Anna M.W.P. Houbraken, an employee of Syngenta Seeds B.V. in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The new osteospermum variety originated from a cross between female parent 'E0210' and an unknown male parent, conducted in June 2000. The new variety was selected from the progeny in 2001 based on plant habit, early flowering, branching, plant vigor and flower quality. The variety has been propagated by vegetative cuttings since August 2001.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Osnewi' were conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora in St. Thomas, Ontario, during the spring of 2006. The trials included 15 plants of each variety grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11 cm pots. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Osnewi' with reference variety 'Osjamwhit'

Peduncle length (cm)

Length of leaf (cm)

Width of leaf (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Osteospermum: 'Osnewi' (left) with reference variety 'Osjamwhit' (right)