Vertis

Verbena

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sunmaririho' (Temari White)

Summary: 'Vertis' differs from the reference variety in growth habit, foliage type and diameter of corolla. The growth habit of 'Vertis' is upright to semi-upright whereas it is drooping in 'Sunmaririho'. The foliage of 'Vertis' is divided to dissected whereas there is no division of the leaves in 'Sunmaririho'. The florets of 'Vertis' are smaller in diameter than those of 'Sunmaririho'.

Description:

'Vertis' is an annual verbena with an upright to semi-upright growth habit. The medium green stems have sparse pubescence with no anthocyanin colouration along stem margins. The dark green leaves are ovate to obovate with a cuneate-shaped base. The leaf margins are divided to dissected and acute to rounded at the tip. Pubescence of the leaf is very weak on the upper surface and absent on the lower surface.

The inflorescence is a domed corymb which is both axillary and terminal in location. The single florets are white with bracts that are smaller in size than the calyx. The calyx has no anthocyanin colouration. The florets are small and are mostly convex in cross section. The arrangement of the corolla lobes is free with curvature in longitudinal axis absent to recurved. The undulation of the corolla lobes is medium (almost fringed). There is one corolla colour with a green yellow eye present on one lobe. The colour of 'Vertis' does not fade with age. The corolla throat hairs are white.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Vertis' was developed at Novartis Seeds B.V. in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. It resulted from a cross between 'U 1022' and 'T 1183' which took place in 1995. A single plant was selected in 1996 and propagated vegetatively by cuttings. 'Vertis' was selected based on flower colour, foliage and plant growth habit.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Vertis' were conducted in a double poly greenhouse at BioFlora Inc., St. Thomas, Ontario during the summer of 2003. Trials consisted of 15 plants/variety with one cutting/152 mm round pot. Colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 RHS colour chart. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Vertis' with reference variety 'Sunmaririho'

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Floret diameter (mm)