Suntapilabu

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'SunmarefTP-V' (Tapien Blue-Violet)

Summary: 'Suntapilabu' has no anthocyanin in the stem while 'SunmarefTP-V' has strong anthocyanin along the edges. 'Suntapilabu' has a smaller leaf blade than 'SunmarefTP-V'. 'Suntapilabu' has strong anthocyanin on the upper side of the leaf blade while 'SunmarefTP-V' has no anthocyanin. 'Suntapilabu' has a whitish green corolla eye while 'SunmarefTP-V' has a purple eye which becomes white with age. The corolla colour fades slightly with age for 'Suntapilabu' while the colour strongly intensifies with age for 'SunmarefTP-V'.

Description:

'Suntapilabu' has a creeping growth habit with short plant height and narrow to medium plant width. The stem has sparse to medium pubescence and is light green in colour. There is no anthocyanin colouration in the stem. The leaf blade is short in length and narrow to medium in width. The leaf blade is ovate to rhombic in shape with a cuneate base and dissected margin. The upper side of the leaf blade is light to medium green in colour and there is strong anthocyanin colouration. The petiole is medium in length.

'Suntapilabu' has a small to medium inflorescence which is broad ovate in profile. The calyx has anthocyanin colouration in the tips of the teeth. The corolla tube is short in length and the hairs protruding from the corolla tube are grey purple in colour. The corolla is very small in diameter and the lobes are free to touching. The corolla lobes are straight along the longitudinal axis and have medium undulation of the margin. There is one colour on the corolla and the colour pattern is even. The colour of the upper side of the corolla is violet which fades slightly as the corolla ages. There is a large corolla eye present which is whitish green in colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Suntapilabu' originated from a cross between T86-99-2 and T85-99-2, made at the Omi R&D Center, Suntory Flowers Limited, Japan in March 1999. In June 1999, seedlings were obtained from the cross and grown in glass houses. Five seedlings were selected in October 2000, based on growth habit and flower colour. The seedlings were propagated by cuttings and tested in flower potting and bedding trials from May to October 2001. 'Suntapilabu' was selected from these trials.

Tests & Trials: 'Suntapilabu' 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 15 cm pots on April 25, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001. Measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Suntapilabu' with reference variety 'SunmarefTP-V'

Leaf blade length (mm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Main colour of corolla (RHS)