Amri Wits09

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Amriwhite Spla Two' (Americana White Splash II)

Summary: 'Amri Wits09' has a more spreading growth habit and longer peduncle than the reference variety 'Amriwhite Spla Two'. The main difference between the two varieties is the size of the markings on the petals. 'Amri Wits09' has large purple red petal markings and 'Amriwhite Spla Two' has much smaller purple red spots.

Description:

PLANT: intermediate to spreading growth habit, short to medium height, medium to broad width, medium number of branches
STEM: green, medium thickness, dense pubescence

LEAF BLADE: short to medium, medium width, open base
LEAF MARGIN: crenate, medium lobing, medium incisions, weak waviness
UPPER SIDE OF BLADE: light green, dense pubescence, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: absent
PETIOLE: short, medium to dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: white colour group, very small to small diameter
PEDUNCLE: long, dense pubescence, very weak to weak anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: single, small diameter, narrow to medium elliptic bud, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: narrow, upper side white with a very strongly conspicuous purple red spot, medium size white basal zone with purple red stripes, lower side white
LOWER PETAL: narrow to medium width, upper side white with pink blush and very strongly conspicuous purple red spot, small white basal zone, lower side white
PEDICEL: short, medium to dense pubescence, green in middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: dense pubescence, green

Origin & Breeding History: 'Amri Wits09' was bred and developed in Gilroy, California, as part of a planned breeding program. The cross took place in February 2004. The female parent was 9109-2, a light pink splash proprietary line and the male parent was 9754-1, a pink splash proprietary line. The selection occurred in November 2004 based on criteria for colour, compact habit and light green foliage.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Amri Wits09' were conducted in a polyhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario, during the summer of 2008. The trials consisted of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 15 cm pots on May 20, 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 18, 2008. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Amri Wits09' with reference variety 'Amriwhite Spla Two'

Length of peduncle (cm)

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

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Pelargonium: 'Amri Wits09' (left) with reference variety 'Amriwhite Spla Two' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Amri Wits09' (left) with reference variety 'Amriwhite Spla Two' (right)