Ice Punch

Poinsettia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Freedom Marble'

Summary: 'Ice Punch' has shorter plants than 'Freedom Marble'. The stems of 'Ice Punch' have no anthocyanin colouration whereas those of 'Freedom Marble' have medium to strong intensity anthocyanin colouration on the upper third of the stem. The leaf blade of 'Ice Punch' has stronger lobe development than that of 'Freedom Marble'. 'Ice Punch' has shorter petioles with stronger anthocyanin colouration of the upper side than 'Freedom Marble'. The upper side of the bract of 'Ice Punch' is red with red pink and dark pink red along the mid-rib whereas for 'Freedom Marble', it is yellow green with dark pink red fading outwards to red pink along the mid-rib. Rugosity between the veins of the bract is mostly absent for 'Ice Punch' while it is present in moderate intensity for 'Freedom Marble'.

Description:

STEM: no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: ovate to elliptic, wedge shaped base, no anthocyanin colouration of upper and lower sides, weak anthocyanin colouration of base of mid-rib on upper side, no anthocyanin colouration of veins on lower side, moderate development of lobes, angle of sinus between lobes is acute, shape of sinus between lobes is rounded
PETIOLE: strong anthocyanin colouration of upper side, absent to weak anthocyanin colouration of lower side

BRACT: bicoloured, 1 to 2 transition bracts, upper side is red with red pink and dark pink red along mid-rib, red to light pink red on lower side, weak to moderate development of lobes, acute angled sinus between lobes, round shaped sinus between lobes, no incisions of margin, absent or very weak folding, no curving, no twisting, mostly absent rugosity between veins
LARGEST BRACT: ovate, wedge shaped base
CYATHIUM GLANDS: small, green, mostly absent anthocyanin colouration of margins

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ice Punch' was discovered in November 2003 at Anrather Strasse 76, Tönisvorst, Germany. It was selected for its unique marble bracts.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Ice Punch' were conducted during the fall of 2007 at Schenk Farms & Greenhouse Co. Ltd. in St. Catherines, Ontario. There were 25 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm pots on August 16, 2007. The pots were spaced 30 cm apart, pot centre to centre. Measured characteristics were based on measurements taken from 10 plants or parts of plants on December 3, 2007. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Ice Punch' with reference variety 'Freedom Marble'

Plant height (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of bract (RHS)

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Poinsettia: 'Ice Punch' (left) with reference variety 'Freedom Marble' (right)

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Poinsettia: 'Ice Punch' (left) with reference variety 'Freedom Marble' (right)