Cante Pinka

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Cante Coras' (Caliente Coral)

Summary: The stems of 'Cante Pinka' are dark green and purple whereas they are green in 'Cante Coras'. The leaves of 'Cante Pinka' are dark green with a weak to medium conspicuousness of zone on the upper side whereas the leaves of 'Cante Coras' are medium green with no zonation. The inflorescence diameter of 'Cante Pinka' is small to medium whereas it is very small in 'Cante Coras'. The anthocyanin colouration of the peduncle of 'Cante Pinka' is strong to very strong whereas it is absent to very weak on 'Cante Coras'. The floret petals of 'Cante Pinka' are purple red whereas they are dark pink red in 'Cante Coras'. The pedicel of 'Cante Pinka' is medium to long whereas it is very short to short in 'Cante Coras'. The middle third of the pedicel of 'Cante Pinka' is dark red to purple whereas it is green to light red in 'Cante Coras'. The sepals of 'Cante Pinka' are red whereas they are green in 'Cante Coras'.

Description:

PLANT: intermediate growth habit, short to medium height, narrrow, 3-4 branches
STEM: dark green and purple, thin to medium thickness, dense pubescence

LEAF BLADE: very short, very narrow, closed base
LEAF BLADE MARGIN: bicrenate, weak to medium degree of lobing, shallow incisions, medium waviness
UPPER SIDE OF LEAF BLADE: dark green, medium density of pubescence, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: weak to medium conspicuousness, normal position, reddish brown
PETIOLE: very short to short, medium to dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: pink colour group, small to medium diameter
PEDUNCLE: very short, dense pubescence, strong to very strong anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: very narrow elliptic bud, small to medium diameter, single, no overlapping of petals, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: very narrow to narrow, upper side purple red, weak to medium striped purple markings on upper side, medium to large white basal zone, light blue pink on lower side
LOWER PETAL: very narrow, upper side purple red with no markings present, very small to small white basal zone, light blue pink on lower side
PEDICEL: medium to long, medium to dense pubescence, middle third dark red to purple, no swelling
SEPAL: medium pubescence, red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cante Pinka' arose from a controlled cross between the variety, '9994-1', characterized by its coral single-type flower, and '9903-2', characterized by its pink single-type flower. The cross was conducted in Gilroy, California in February, 2005. Seed from the resulting cross was sown in the greenhouse in August, 2005. Initial selection was made in October, 2005 based on flower colour and quality and plant growth habit.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial of 'Cante Pinka' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2008 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 20 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm pots on June 24, 2008. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 22, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Cante Pinka' with reference variety 'Cante Coras'

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Pedicel length (cm)

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Pelargonium: 'Cante Pinka' (left) with reference variety 'Cante Coras' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Cante Pinka' (left) with reference variety 'Cante Coras' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Cante Pinka' (left) with reference variety 'Cante Coras' (right)