Balyricose

Salvia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pink Friesland'

Summary: The shoot of 'Balyricose' has very strong anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Pink Friesland' has absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration. The inflorescence of 'Balyricose' is longer with a longer internode than that of 'Pink Friesland'. The bract of 'Balyricose' is longer than that of 'Pink Friesland'. The outer side of the calyx of 'Balyricose' is dark violet whereas that of 'Pink Friesland' is dark green with dark violet along the veins and margin. The corolla of 'Balyricose' is shorter than that of 'Pink Friesland'. The lower lip of the corolla of 'Balyricose' is narrower than that of 'Pink Friesland'. The lower lip of the corolla of 'Balyricose' has medium undulation of the margin while that of 'Pink Friesland' has strong undulation of the margin.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium density of shoots
SHOOT: very strong anthocyanin colouration, weak distribution of anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence

LEAF BLADE: medium length to width ratio, position of broadest part is moderately towards base, acute apex, cordate base, upper side is green, no variegation, sparse pubescence on upper side, medium rugosity, absent or very weak glossiness on upper side, medium incisions of margin, medium to strong undulation of margin

INFLORESCENCE: medium number of florets per node, medium number of lateral branches, upright attitude of tip
BRACT: purple (RHS 72B) with streaks of brown purple (RHS N77A)
CALYX: outer side is dark violet (greyer than RHS N79A), medium pubescence on outer side
UPPER LIP OF COROLLA: main colour of outer side is blue pink (RHS N74D), sparse pubescence on outer side
LOWER LIP OF COROLLA: semi-drooping attitude relative to corolla tube, main colour of inner side is violet (close to RHS N78B), medium undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: outer side is blue pink (RHS N74D) fading towards light blue violet (RHS 76D) at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balyricose' originated from a pollination conducted in November of 2008 at Elburn, Illinois, USA between the female parent designated '72-3' and the male parent designated '72-2'. The initial selection was made in June 2010 based on its deeper calyx colour, fuller spike and growth habit that matches the Salvia Lyrical series. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Balyricose' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2013 at Bioflora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 17, 2013. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on May 28, 2013. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balyricose' with reference variety 'Pink Friesland'

Inflorescence length (cm)

Length of inflorescence internode between floret whorls (cm)

Bract length (cm)

Colour of calyx (RHS)

Corolla length (cm)

Width of lower lip of corolla (cm)

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Salvia: 'Balyricose' (left) with reference variety 'Pink Friesland' (right)

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Salvia: 'Balyricose' (left) with reference variety 'Pink Friesland' (right)

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Salvia: 'Balyricose' (left) with reference variety 'Pink Friesland' (right)