RIKAV44101

Verbena

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Lanai Red' and 'Sunmarired' (Temari Red)

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the stem is medium to strong for 'RIKAV44101' whereas the intensity of anthocyanin colouration is weak for the reference varieties. The inflorescence of 'RIKAV44101' has a larger diameter than 'Lanai Red'. The corolla of 'RIKAV44101' has a larger diameter than 'Lanai Red'. The arrangement of the corolla lobes for 'RIKAV44101' is free to touching whereas it is overlapping for 'Sunmarired'. The margin of the corolla lobe of 'RIKAV44101' has a medium to strong degree of undulation whereas the margin of the corolla lobe of 'Lanai Red' has a weak to medium degree of undulation. The eye of the corolla of 'RIKAV44101' is purple whereas the eye colour is whitish green for 'Sunmarired'.

Description:

PLANT: creeping growth habit

STEM: medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: ovate, no divisions, dentate to crenate margin, medium to dark green on upper side, no anthocyanin colouration on upper side

INFLORESCENCE: broad obovate in profile
CALYX: anthocyanin colouration on teeth only
COROLLA: arrangement of lobes is free to touching, no colour change with age
COROLLA LOBE: incurved along the longitudinal axis, medium to strong undulation of margin
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): one colour (excluding eye zone) in shaded pattern, distribution of colour is lighter towards apex, red (slightly more orange than RHS 45B)
COROLLA LOBE (OUTER SIDE): dark pink red (RHS 51A)
COROLLA EYE: very small to small diameter, purple
COROLLA TUBE: tips of protruding hairs are pink

Origin & Breeding History: 'RIKAV44101 was bred and developed by the breeder, Rika Matsumoto, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. It originated from a controlled cross conducted on May 18, 2015, between a seedling designated '13V349-02', as the female parent, and a seedling designated '13V308-02', as the male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'RIKAV44101' was selected on May 26, 2016, in Bonsall, California, USA, for its plant growth habit, flower size, and resistance to powdery mildew. Asexual reproduction of 'RIKAV44101' was first conducted by vegetative cutting on May 30, 2016, in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'RIKAV44101' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2019, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm diameter pots on April 15, 2019. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety on June 4, 2019. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'RIKAV44101' with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' and 'Sunmarired'

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Corolla diameter (cm)

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Verbena: 'RIKAV44101' (left) with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' (centre) and 'Sunmarired' (right)

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Verbena: 'RIKAV44101' (left) with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' (centre) and 'Sunmarired' (right)

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Verbena: 'RIKAV44101' (left) with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' (centre) and 'Sunmarired' (right)