PER1303

Poinsettia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Peterstar Red' and 'PER1270'

Summary: The leaf and petiole of 'PER1303' are longer than those of 'PER1270'. The shape of the base of the leaf blade of 'PER1303' is mostly truncate while that of 'PER1270' is wedge-shaped to rounded. The leaf blade of 'PER1303' has strong intensity of green colouration on the upper side while that of 'Peterstar Red' has medium intensity of green colouration on the upper side. The leaf blade and bract of 'PER1303' have few lobes while those of both reference varieties have no lobing. The bract of 'PER1303' has no folding along the main vein and absent or very weak rugosity between the veins whereas the bract of 'Peterstar Red' has folding along the main vein and medium to strong rugosity between the veins.

Description:

PLANT: branching present
STEM: medium intensity of green colour on middle third, weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak to medium anthocyanin colouration of upper third

LEAF BLADE: ovate, mostly truncate base, one colour on upper side, strong intensity of green colour, main vein is green and red on upper side, few lobes, shallow to medium depth of deepest sinus, absent or weak curvature of main vein
PETIOLE: absent or very weak intensity of green colour on upper side, strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of lower side
TRANSITIONAL LEAVES: few to medium number of partly bract-coloured leaf blades, few fully bract-coloured leaf blades, weak to medium degree of lobing, absent or weak curvature along main vein of fully bract-coloured leaf blades

BRACT: medium number, ovate, one colour on upper side, upper side is red (RHS 46B), no spotting on upper side, lower side is red (RHS 47B), no folding along main vein, no twisting, absent or very weak rugosity between veins
CYATHIUM GLAND: medium to large, yellow, no deformation

Origin & Breeding History: 'PER1303' was discovered and developed at Paul Ecke Ranch, Encinitas, California in December 2007. The new variety was selected based on its dark red bract colour, dark green foliage and moderately vigorous upright branching habit.

Tests & Trials: The trial for 'PER1303' was conducted in 2013 at Schenck's Greenhouses in St. Catharines, Ontario. The trial included 25 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on July 25, 2013. Pots were spaced 30 cm apart from the pot centre. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on November 26, 2013. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'PER1303' with reference varieties 'Peterstar Red' and 'PER1270'

Leaf length, including petiole (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

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Poinsettia: 'PER1303' (left) with reference varieties 'Peterstar Red' (centre) and 'PER1270' (right)

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Poinsettia: 'PER1303' (left) with reference varieties 'Peterstar Red' (centre) and 'PER1270' (right)

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Poinsettia: 'PER1303' (left) with reference varieties 'Peterstar Red' (centre) and 'PER1270' (right)