Sunrenilapa

Torenia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Sunrenirirepa' (Summer Wave Amethyst) and 'Sunrenilabu' (Summer Wave Blue)

Summary: 'Sunrenilapa' has a trailing plant growth habit while both 'Sunrenirirepa' and 'Sunrenilabu' are semi-erect to trailing. The plants of 'Sunrenilapa' are more sparsely branched with longer stem internodes than those of the reference varieties. The flowers of 'Sunrenilapa' have a larger corolla diameter than those of 'Sunrenilabu'. The inner side of the lower petal of 'Sunrenilapa' has a small, yellow stripe while that of 'Sunrenilabu' has a large, yellow spot.

Description:

'Sunrenilapa' is a torenia variety with a trailing plant growth habit. The stems are light green with sparse pubescence and moderate anthocyanin colouration on the middle third. The shape of the leaf blades is broad ovate with a narrow acute apex and cordate base. The margin of the leaf blades is serrate with moderately deep incisions. The upper side of the medium green leaves has very sparse pubescence and no anthocyanin colouration. The calyx has absent to moderate anthocyanin colouration and medium to large sized wings.

'Sunrenilapa' produces funnel shaped flowers which are violet fading to lighter violet as they mature. There is light blue violet secondary colouration at the base of the upper and lower lobes of the corolla at the area of transition to the corolla tube. The lower lobe of the corolla also has a small, central stripe at the area of transition to the corolla tube. The conspicuousness of the veins on the inner side of the corolla tube is moderate. The inner and outer sides of the corolla tube are violet.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sunrenilapa' originated from artificially doubling the chromosome number of torenia plant variety 'Sunrenirirepa'. The procedure, which began in September of 1998, was conducted at the Omi Research Center of Suntory Flowers Ltd., Aza-Iketani, Omori-cho, Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. Cuttings of 'Sunreniriepa' were treated with 0.1% colchicine solution and planted in peat. After two months, the surviving plantlets were transplanted into pots. In December of 1998, selected "colchiploids" were propagated by cutting and evaluated in bedding and potting trials. As a result of these trials, 'Sunrenilapa' was finally selected based on its plant growth habit, flower size and flower colour.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Sunrenilapa' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2004 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11 cm pots on August 30, 2004. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 RHS colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Sunrenilapa' with reference varieties 'Sunrenirirepa' and 'Sunrenilabu'

Stem internode length (cm)

Diameter of corolla (cm)

Main colour on inner side of corolla (RHS)

Secondary colour on inner side of corolla (RHS)