RIKAV44501

Verbena

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Lanai Red' and 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye'

Summary: The plants of'RIKAV44501' are shorter and narrower than the plants of 'Lanai Red'. Including the petiole, 'RIKAV44501' has a longer leaf than 'Lanai Red'. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green for 'RIKAV44501' whereas the leaf blade is dark green for 'Lanai Red'. The inflorescence of 'RIKAV44501' has a larger diameter than 'Lanai Red'. The corolla of 'RIKAV44501' has a smaller diameter than 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye'. The margin of the corolla lobe of 'RIKAV44501' has a strong degree of undulation whereas the degree undulation of the margin of the corolla lobe is weak to medium for 'Lanai Red' and medium for 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye'. The tips of the protruding hairs of the corolla tube of 'RIKAV44501' are mostly white whereas those of 'Lanai Red' are pinkish purple. The corolla of 'RIKAV44501' has a small eye whereas the eye of 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye' is medium sized. The corolla of 'RIKAV44501' has a green yellow eye whereas that of 'Lanai Red' has a purple eye.

Description:

PLANT: creeping growth habit

STEM: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: ovate, no divisions, mostly crenate margin, medium 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, strong undulation of margin,
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): one colour (excluding eye zone) in even pattern, red (RHS 45B)
COROLLA LOBE (OUTER SIDE): dark pink red (RHS 53D) with red (RHS 46C) along margin
COROLLA EYE: small diameter, mostly green yellow
COROLLA TUBE: tips of protruding hairs are mostly white

Origin & Breeding History: 'RIKAV44501' 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 '14V353-01', as the female parent, and a seedling designated '13V349-04', as the male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'RIKAV44501' was selected on May 26, 2016, in Bonsall, California, USA, for its plant growth habit, flower size, flower colour and resistance to powdery mildew. Asexual reproduction of 'RIKAV44501' was first conducted by vegetative cutting on May 30, 2016, in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'RIKAV44501' 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 'RIKAV44501' with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' and 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf length (including petiole) (cm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Corolla diameter (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'RIKAV44501' (left) with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' (centre) and 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'RIKAV44501' (left) with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' (centre) and 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Verbena: 'RIKAV44501' (left) with reference varieties 'Lanai Red' (centre) and 'Lanai Scarlet with Eye' (right)