USANG4

Pimpernel

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'USANG5' (Cinnamon) and 'Wildcat Orange'

Summary: 'USANG4' has a more drooping plant habit than 'Wildcat Orange' and more densely branched plants with shorter stem internodes than either reference variety. 'USANG4' has thicker shoots than 'USANG5' and thinner shoots than 'Wildcat Orange'. 'USANG4' has wider leaves than 'Wildcat Orange'. The leaves of 'USANG4' are orbicular with a petiole while those of 'Wildcat Orange' are oblanceolate and sessile. 'USANG4' has lighter green, glossier leaves than 'Wildcat Orange'. The leaf surface of 'USANG4' is punctate while it is smooth for 'Wildcat Orange'. 'USANG4' has longer sepals and larger corolla with longer petals than 'USANG5' whereas it has a smaller corolla with shorter petals than 'Wildcat Orange'. The petals of 'USANG4' are light blue pink with blue pink stripes while those of 'USANG5' are blue pink with purple red stripes and those of 'Wildcat Orange' are orange red.

Description:

'USANG4' is a Pimpernel variety with drooping plant growth habit and dense branching. The shoots are medium in thickness with very sparse pubescence and moderate to strong anthocyanin colouration. The arrangement of the leaves on the stem is opposite. The leaf blade is orbicular in shape with a round to obtuse apex, round base and entire margin. Curvature of the leaf blade along the longitudinal axis is slightly recurved. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green with moderate to strong glossiness and very sparse pubescence. The texture of the leaf blade surface is punctate. A petiole is present.

The flowers of 'USANG4' develop at axillary positions along the stem. The sepals are lanceolate in shape with an acute apex. The profile of the corolla is concave and the arrangement of the petals is not touching. The petals are elliptic in shape with a round tip. When viewed in cross-section, the mid-point of the petals is weakly concave. The upper side of each petal is light blue pink with blue pink stripes and purple red secondary colour at the base. The lower side of the petal is light blue pink. The anthers are greenish yellow and positioned at the same level as the stigma. The filament is white to pink and moderately pubescent. The stigma is yellow.

Origin & Breeding History: 'USANG4' (breeders' reference # 'ANG-4') is the product of a planned breeding program developed by the breeder, Ushio Sakazaki, in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. It originated from a controlled cross conducted on May 25, 1999 between the female parent, Anagallis filiformis and the male parent, an unknown Anagallis sp. The seed from this cross was sown in Bonsall, California, USA on February 10, 2000 and 'USANG4' was selected from the resultant progeny on May 12, 2000 based on its plant growth habit and flower characteristics.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'USANG4' was conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2005. The trial included 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 6 inch pots on May 9, 2005. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'USANG4' with reference varieties 'USANG5' and 'Wildcat Orange'

Stem internode length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Sepal length (mm)

Corolla diameter (mm)

Petal length (mm)

Colour of the petals (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pimpernel: 'USANG4' (left) and 'USANG5' (centre) with reference variety 'Wildcat Orange' (right)