Sil Ruben

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balcolbugi' (Colorcade Burgundy Improved)

Summary: 'Sil Ruben' has a slightly stronger degree of leaf lobing and conspicuousness of the leaf zone than 'Balcolbugi'. The base of the upper side of the upper petal in 'Sil Ruben' is a dark purple red to dark pink red while it is a purple red in 'Balcolbugi'. 'Sil Ruben' has a dark purple red to dark pink red lower side of the petal while it is purple mottled with white in 'Balcolbugi'. The pubescence on the sepal of 'Sil Ruben' is slightly sparser than in 'Balcolbugi'.

Description:

PLANT: intermediate growth habit, short, few branches
STEM: thin, dense pubescence, green

LEAF: short, narrow, open to closed base, entire margin, strong degree of lobing present, medium incisions of the lobes, medium waviness of margin, dense pubescence on the upper side, medium green, no variegation, medium conspicuousness of green zone at the base on upper side, short to medium petiole, dense pubescence on petiole

INFLORESCENCE: red colour group, medium number per plant, medium diameter, short peduncle, moderate pubescence on peduncle, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of peduncle
FLORET: double type, large diameter, elliptic bud shape, medium to many petals, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: medium width, dark purple red, dark purple red to dark pink red at base and on lower side, medium to strongly conspicuous dark brown stripes present
LOWER PETAL: medium width, dark purple red, no markings present, small white zone at base present
PEDICEL: short to medium length, moderate to dense pubescence, middle third green and light red, no swelling
SEPAL: moderate pubescence, green with some red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sil Ruben' originated from a controlled pollination made during the summer of 1998 in Weener, Niedersachsen, Germany, between the female parent 'Penro' and the male parent, which was a mix of pollen derived from several pelargonium varieties characterized by their red flowers . The new variety was selected as a single plant from the resultant progeny in June 1999.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Sil Ruben' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 at St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were planted into 10 cm pots on May 1, 2006 and then transplanted into 20 cm pots on June 26, 2006. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Sil Ruben' with reference variety 'Balcolbugi'

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Sil Ruben' (left) with reference variety 'Balcolbugi' (right)