Flobrafla

Strawflower / Paper Daisy

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Flobrabri' (Sundaze Bronze)

Summary: 'Flobrafla' has weaker undulation of the leaf blade margin than 'Flobrabri'. The flower bud of 'Flobrafla' has a pointed apex while the flower bud of 'Flobrabri' has a rounded apex. The upper part of the flower head is concave in lateral view for 'Flobrafla' while it is flat for 'Flobrabri'. The middle third of the lower bract is yellow orange blended with orange brown for 'Flobrafla' while it is orange brown for 'Flobrabri'. The middle third of the upper bract is yellow for 'Flobrafla' while it is orange brown with yellow at the base for 'Flobrabri'. 'Flobrafla' has a longer bract length with weaker incurving than 'Flobrabri'.

Description:

'Flobrafla' has an erect, dense growth habit and has sparse pubescence on the stem. The leaf blade has a large length to width ratio. The leaf blade is broadest near the middle and has an acuminate shaped apex. The upper side of the leaf blade is dark green in colour. The upper and lower side of the leaf blade has very sparse pubescence. The leaf blade margin has weak undulation.

The peduncle is not branched. The flower bud has a pointed apex. The flower head is positioned level with or just above the foliage. In lateral view the flower head is flat on the lower part and concave on the upper part. There are a medium number of bracts. The involucre is bicoloured and the bract is multi-coloured. The pappus is yellow in colour and the bract has a medium degree of incurving.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Flobrafla' originated from a cross conducted in January 1999, in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, between the variety '97-004' as the female parent and an unidentified Bracteantha selection as the male parent. The new Bracteantha variety was selected in September 2000 based on flower characteristics and plant growth habit. Asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings was first conducted in May 2001, at Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia.

Tests & Trials: 'Flobrafla' was tested in a polyhouse during the summer of 2005, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 11 cm pots on April 26, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001. Measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Flobrafla' with reference variety 'Flobrabri'

Colour of bud

Colour of lower bract (RHS)

Colour of upper bract (RHS)

Bract length (cm)