Balwatazmi

Lobelia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Loboudtis' (Laguna Sky Blue) and 'Lobetis' (Laguna Compact Blue with Eye)

Summary: 'Balwatazmi' has an upright bushy growth habit while 'Loboudtis' has a horizontal to trailing growth habit. 'Balwatazmi' has a taller plant height and a narrower plant width than 'Loboudtis'. 'Balwatazmi' has thinner stems than the reference varieties. 'Balwatazmi' has a smaller flower diameter than the reference varieties. The upper side of the corolla is lighter for 'Balwatazmi' than for 'Lobetis'. 'Balwatazmi' has white markings on the lower lobes while 'Loboudtis' has dark blue and white markings and 'Lobetis' has white and light blue markings. 'Balwatazmi' has larger markings on the lower lobes than 'Loboudtis'

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propagated annual, upright bushy growth habit, dense branching and foliage

STEM: thin, light green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, no pubescence

LEAF: alternate arrangement, simple type, narrow elliptic to spatulate, apex acute with very small tip, attenuate base, serrate margin, light to medium green with no variegation, very sparse pubescence on upper side

SEPAL: triangular, weak anthocyanin colouration at tips

INFLORESCENCE: raceme type, terminal and axillary position, upright attitude
PEDICEL: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
UPPER COROLLA LOBE: cuspidate apex, elliptic and obovate shape, violet blue on upper side
LOWER COROLLA LOBE: elliptic and obovate shape, violet blue on upper side, violet blue with white at base on lower side, white markings, markings medium to large, small green-yellow palate
STIGMA: dark blue

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balwatazmi' originated from the open pollination of proprietary Lobelia breeding selection designated LOB-133, conducted during August 2002 at Arroyo Grande, California, USA. LOB-133 is characterized by its' lavender-blue and white flower color, dark green leaf color, and upright growth habit. The initial selection was made on January 28, 2003. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings. 'Balwatazmi' was selected for its flower colour pattern.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted in the summer of 2007 in a polyhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials consisted of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 11cm pots on April 23, 2007. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 25, 2007. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balwatazmi' with reference varieties 'Loboudtis' and 'Lobetis'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Corolla colour (RHS)

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Lobelia: 'Balwatazmi' (left) with reference varieties 'Loboudtis' (center) and 'Lobetis' (right)

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Lobelia: 'Balwatazmi' (left) with reference varieties 'Loboudtis' (center) and 'Lobetis' (right)