Eckaloha

Poinsettia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Eckabri'

Summary: 'Eckaloha' produces a smaller plant than 'Eckabri'. The leaves and bracts of 'Eckaloha' are smaller than 'Eckabri'. The shape of the base of the leaf blade and the largest leaf bract in 'Eckaloha' is wedge shaped while it is rounded in 'Eckabri'. 'Eckaloha' has an incision of the margin of the leaf blade while 'Eckabri' does not. The petiole is longer in 'Eckaloha' than in 'Eckabri'. 'Eckaloha' has bicoloured cream and red bracts while 'Eckabri' has uniform red bracts.

Description:

'Eckaloha' is a poinsettia variety with weak anthocyanin colouration of the stem. The broad ovate shaped leaves have a wedge-shaped base with no anthocyanin colouration on the upper and lower sides. The veins on the upper and lower sides of the leaf blades have absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration. Development of lobes on the leaf blades is strong and the shape of the sinus between the lobes is pointed. Incision of the margin of the leaf blades is present.

The upper side of the petiole has weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration in 'Eckaloha' while the lower side of the petiole is very weak in anthocyanin intensity. 'Eckaloha' produces many bicoloured coloured bracts which are red and cream in colour. Initiation of colour of the bracts occurs early in the season. Development of lobes on the bracts is strong with incision of the margin being absent. The shape of the sinuses between the lobes of the bracts are pointed. There is no folding, curving or twisting of the bracts. 'Eckaloha' has a medium intensity of rugosity between the veins of the bracts. The broad elliptical to broad ovate shaped bracts have a wedge shaped base. Time of opening of the first three cyathia is early in the season. The glands of the cyathium are yellow-orange in colour and small to medium in size. There is a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the margins of the glands.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Eckaloha' was discovered at the Paul Ecke Ranch, in Encinitas, California in March 1999. It was selected for its bicoloured cream and red bracts. It is maintained in its vegetative state, and reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Encinitas, California.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Eckaloha' were conducted at Ed Sobkowich Greenhouses Ltd., Grimsby, Ontario during the fall/winter of 2001. Ten plants of each variety were greenhouse grown, with the 15 cm pots spaced 0.4 metres apart on the bench. Unless otherwise indicated, measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Eckaloha' with reference variety 'Eckabri'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of bract (RHS)

Bract length (cm)

Bract width (cm)