Balrioapt

Portulaca/purslane

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Summer Joy Wine Red' (Yubi Summer Joy Wine Red) and 'Balriorose' (Rio Rose)

Summary: 'Balrioapt' differs from the reference varieties, 'Summer Joy Wine Red' and 'Balriorose' mainly in plant height, intensity of anthocyanin colouration of shoots, leaf blade width, flower diameter and colour, and filament colour. The plants of 'Balrioapt' have longer shoots than those of both reference varieties. The shoots of 'Balrioapt' have light purple anthocyanin colouration on the shoots whereas it is medium to strong purple in 'Summer Joy Wine Red' and light brown in 'Balriorose'. The leaves of 'Balrioapt' are narrower than those of 'Balriorose'. The flower diameter of 'Balrioapt' is smaller than that of both reference varieties. The flowers of 'Balrioapt' are lighter red-purple (pink) than those of 'Summer Joy Wine Red' which are more red and 'Balriorose' which is a darker red purple. The filament of 'Balrioapt' is yellow and pink whereas it is green and red in both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: annual, spreading growth habit, dense branching, medium thickness of shoots, light green shoots with very weak light purple anthocyanin colouration spread randomly on shoot.

LEAF: alternate arrangement of simple leaves, elliptic and obovate with an acute and obtuse apex, cuneate base, medium to dark green upper surface, medium intensity of purple anthocyanin colouration along the margins on the upper surface, light to medium green on lower surface, petiole mostly absent

CALYX: opposite arrangement, two sepals, broad ovate
FLOWER: inflorescence type, one open flower, terminal location, strongly concave in profile
COROLLA LOBES: overlapping, margins weak to medium fringed, retuse at tip, strong undulation of margins, reflexing of margins absent
STAMEN: yellow and pink filament, orange anther
PISTIL: large, yellow and pink style, pink stigma

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balrioapt' arose from the self-pollination of the variety, 'Wild Fire Bronze' conducted in January 2002 at Dulce Nombre de Cartago, Costa Rica. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a series of proprietary portulaca varieties unique in its characteristics from other portulaca varieties. Initial selection and reproduction by vegetative cuttings first began in June, 2002.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Balrioapt' were conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario during the spring of 2006. The trial included a total of 15 plants of both the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 6 inch pots on April 26, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 14, 2006. All colour measurements were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balrioapt' with reference varieties 'Summer Joy Wine Red' and 'Balriorose'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf: blade width(cm)

Flower: diameter (cm)

Colour of upper surface of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of lower surface of corolla lobe (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Portulaca/purslane: 'Balrioapt' (left) with reference varieties 'Summer Joy Wine Red' (centre) and 'Balriorose' (right)