Cante Laver

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Cante Ros' (Caliente Rose) and 'Fiscomedy' (Comedy)

Summary: 'Cante Laver' has denser pubescence on the stem than 'Fiscomedy'. 'Cante Laver' has a bicrenate leaf margin while 'Fiscomedy' has an entire leaf margin. 'Cante Laver' has no leaf zone while 'Fiscomedy' has a reddish brown leaf zone. 'Cante Laver' has denser pubescence on the petiole and peduncle than 'Fiscomedy'. 'Cante Laver' has a smaller floret diameter and a lower number of petals than 'Fiscomedy'. 'Cante Laver' differs from 'Cante Ros' in flower colour. 'Cante Laver' has a larger white zone at the base of the upper petal than the reference varieties. 'Cante Laver' has denser pubescence on the pedicel than 'Fiscomedy'.

Description:

PLANT: upright to intermediate growth habit, short to medium height, medium width, medium number of branches
STEM: green, thin, dense pubescence

LEAF: short, narrow, open to closed base
MARGIN: bicrenate, medium to deep lobing, shallow incisions, medium to strong waviness
UPPER SIDE: medium to dense pubescence, medium to dark green, no variegation, no leaf zone
PETIOLE: short to medium length, dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: violet colour group, low to medium number per plant, medium diameter
PEDUNCLE: short to medium length, dense pubescence, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: bud narrow elliptic, single, medium diameter, low to medium number of petals, petals overlapping, margin entire
UPPER PETAL: narrow to medium width, red purple on upper side with medium striped markings, medium to large white zone at base, blue pink on lower side
LOWER PETAL: narrow, red purple on upper side with no markings and a very small white zone at base, blue pink on lower side
PEDICEL: dense pubescence, medium red on middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: medium to dense pubescence, green with red at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cante Laver' originated from a cross made at Morgan Hill, California, USA, in September, 2001. The female parent was 8961-2, a proprietary line with dark red coloured flowers, and the male parent was 9104-1, a proprietary line with dark red coloured flowers. The resultant seed was sown in 2002 and a single plant was selected based on flower colour, flower form and plant habit.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Cante Laver' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 at St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were planted into 4 inch pots on May 1, 2006 and then transplanted into 8 inch pots on June 26, 2006. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cante Laver' with reference varieties 'Cante Ros' and 'Fiscomedy'

Floret diameter (cm)

Number of petals

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Cante Laver' (left) with reference varieties 'Cante Ros' (centre) and 'Fiscomedy' (right)