Totem Pole
| Denomination: | 'Totem Pole' |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name: | Panicum |
| Applicant/Holder: |
Walters Gardens, Inc. 1992 96th Avenue P.O. Box 137 Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0137 United States of America |
| Breeder: |
Hans A. Hansen, Zeeland, United States of America |
| Agent in Canada: |
Variety Rights Management 475 County Road 18 R.R. #2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0 Canada Tel: 613-258-9015 |
| Application Date: | 2018-05-18 |
| Provisional Protection:: | 2018-05-18 |
| Application Number: | 18-9496 |
| Grant of Rights Date: | 2023-06-20 |
| Certificate Number: | 6834 |
| Grant of Rights Termination Date: | 2043-06-20 |
Variety Description
Variety used for comparison: 'Heavy Metal'
Summary: The plants of 'Totem Pole' have an erect growth habit and a narrow columnar shape whereas the plants of 'Heavy Metal' have a semi-erect growth habit with a bushy upright shape. The stem of 'Totem Pole' is of medium thickness at the base whereas the stem of 'Heavy Metal' is thin at the base. The leaf blade and inflorescence of 'Totem Pole' are longer than those of 'Heavy Metal'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the pedicels on the inflorescence of 'Totem Pole' is absent or very weak whereas for 'Heavy Metal' it is of weak to medium intensity.
Description:
PLANT: erect growth habit, narrow columnar shape
STEM: herbaceous, medium thickness at base, light to medium green, absent or very sparse pubescence
LEAF: alternate arrangement, linear shape, upper side dark brown green (RHS 189A) in summer, upper side medium yellow brown to light brown (RHS 165C-D) in fall, concave in cross-section, twisted along longitudinal axis, entire margin with microscopic marginal dentations, acute apex, absent or very sparse pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: panicle type
PEDICEL: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, semi-erect attitude of lower side
Origin & Breeding History: 'Totem Pole' originated from an open pollinated cross conducted in 2012 in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The open pollination was made between the female parent, an unreleased hybrid labeled 'HK10-2', and siblings of 'HK10-02'. Seeds were collected and sown from individual female plants in the summer of 2012. Initial selections were made in the summer of 2013 based on foliage colour and plant growth habit.
Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Totem Pole' was conducted outdoors under a galvanized steel structure covered with black mesh shade fabric during the summer of 2021 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown as 1 plant per 16 cm pot and the pots were spaced 40 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of 10 plants per variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.
Comparison tables for 'Totem Pole' with reference variety 'Heavy Metal'
Flag leaf length (cm)
| 'Totem Pole' | 'Heavy Metal' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 35.4 | 28.6 |
| std. deviation | 3.69 | 1.60 |
Inflorescence length (cm)
| 'Totem Pole' | 'Heavy Metal' | |
|---|---|---|
| mean | 30.5 | 22.7 |
| std. deviation | 4.89 | 2.98 |
Click on image for larger view
Panicum: 'Totem Pole' (left) with reference variety 'Heavy Metal' (right)
Click on image for larger view
Panicum: 'Totem Pole' (bottom) with reference variety 'Heavy Metal' (top)
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