GENUS AND SPECIES
Verbena sp.
VARIETY DENOMINATION
‘KLEVP12431’
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims, under 35 U.S.C. §119, priority to and the benefit of European Community Plant Variety Rights Application No. 2013/1833, filed Jul. 3, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT
The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEVP12431’. ‘KLEVP12431’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in April 2009 in Sydney, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘V 985’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety derived from the cross of ‘V 641’ (unpatented)בV 740’ (unpatented).
The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP12431’ was selected from the group of plants in Cobitty, NSW, Australia in September, 2010.
In September 2010, ‘KLEVP12431’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Cobitty, NSW, Australia. ‘KLEVP12431’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.
SUMMARY
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.
1. Large purple and white flowers;
2. Excellent flower richness;
3. Early flowering time;
4. A strong growth habit; and
5. Good resistance to powdery mildew.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH
This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a two to three-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2012. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY
The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP12431’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in February 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.)(2005).
- Classification:
- Family.—Verbenaceae.
- Botanical.—Verbena sp.
- Common.—Verbena.
- Designation.—‘KLEVP12431’.
- Parentage:
- Female parent.—The proprietary verbena variety ‘V 985’ (unpatented).
- Male parent.—The proprietary male verbena variety derived from the cross of ‘V 641’ (unpatented)בV 740’ (unpatented).
- Plant:
- Growth and branching habit.—Upright.
- Height (from top of soil).—30.0 cm.
- Width (horizontal plant diameter).—30.0 cm.
- Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8 weeks.
- Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.
- Root description.—White.
- Stems:
- Number of branches per plant.—More than 10.
- Growth habit.—Semi-upright.
- Length.—20.0 cm.
- Diameter.—1.0 cm.
- Internode length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.
- Color.—RHS 130B.
- Anthocyanin.—Absent.
- Texture and appearance.—Pubescence, round.
- Leaves:
- Arrangement.—Opposite.
- Immature and mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 141A Lower surface: RHS 141C.
- Length.—2.5 cm.
- Width.—1.5 cm.
- Shape.—Lanceolate.
- Apex.—Acute.
- Base.—Obtuse.
- Margin.—Crenate.
- Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Rugose.
- Venation type.—Pinnate.
- Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 141D Lower surface: RHS 141D.
- Petioles.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 141D Texture: Leathery.
- Flower buds:
- Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.
- Length.—0.5 cm.
- Diameter.—0.1 cm.
- Color (at tight bud).—RHS 59A.
- Inflorescence:
- Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.
- Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—2 weeks.
- Fragrance.—Absent.
- Inflorescence type.—Umbel.
- Length of inflorescence.—6.0 cm.
- Diameter of inflorescence.—6.0 cm.
- Number of florets per inflorescence.—More than 15.
- Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A Length: 4.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm.
- Florets:
- Length.—2.0 cm.
- Diameter.—4.0 cm.
- Texture.—Glossy.
- Form.—Umbel.
- Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 91D and RHS 999D Lower surface: RHS 91D and RHS 999D Mature: Upper surface: RHS 91C and RHS 999D Lower surface: RHS 91C and RHS 999D.
- Corolla tube length.—0.2 cm.
- Corolla tube color.—RHS 91C.
- Petals.—Length of lobe: 2.0 cm Diameter of lobe: 2.0 cm Lobe shape: Round Apex: Acute Base: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture: Upper surface: Glossy, satiny Lower surface: Glossy, satiny.
- Pedicels.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 91C and RHS 999D Texture and appearance: Hairy, dull Arrangement: Round.
- Sepals:
- Shape.—Lanceolate.
- Apex.—Acute.
- Base.—Obtuse.
- Margin.—Entire.
- Length.—2.0 cm.
- Diameter.—1.5 cm.
- Color.—RHS 141C.
- Texture.—Upper surface: Hairy, dull Lower surface: Hairy, dull.
- Reproductive organs:
- Stamens.—Present.
- Quantity.—Numerous.
- Filament length.—0.1 cm.
- Filament diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm.
- Anther.—Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS 141D Length: Less than 0.1 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.
- Pollen amount.—Absent.
- Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm Stigma: Color: RHS 141D Appearance: Ovate Length: Less than 0.1 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm Style: Color: RHS 141D Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm Appearance: Long.
- Fruit and seed set:
- Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance against powdery mildew, very good weather resistance.
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETIES
‘KLEVP12431’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.
TABLE 1
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Comparison with Parental Lines
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Variety
Female parent
Male Parent
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Trait
‘KLEVP12431’
‘V 985’
‘V 641’ × ‘V 740’
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Flower richness
Excellent
Good
Good
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Earliness
Early
Early
Medium
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‘KLEVP12431’ is most similar to the commercial verbena Vepita ‘Lavender White’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.
TABLE 2
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Comparison with Similar Variety
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Commercial line
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Variety
Vepita ‘Lavender
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Trait
‘KLEVP12431’
White’
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Flowering time
Earlier than
Late
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Vepita ‘Lavender White’
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Flower size
Bigger than
Smaller than
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Vepita ‘Lavender White’
‘KLEVP12431’
|
Growth habit
Stronger than
Weaker than
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Vepita ‘Lavender White’
‘KLEVP12431’
|
Resistance against
Better than
Not as good as
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powdery mildew
Vepita ‘Lavender White’
‘KLEVP12431’
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