Lobtrawi

Lobelia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'White Star'

Summary: 'Lobtrawi' has a semi-upright to spreading growth habit while it is upright bushy in 'White Star'. The branching of 'Lobtrawi' is sparser than in 'White Star'. 'Lobtrawi' has a thinner, lighter green stem than 'White Star'. The stem of 'Lobtrawi' has no anthocyanin colouration while in 'White Star' it does. 'Lobtrawi' has a medium green leaf while it is dark green in 'White Star'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright to spreading growth habit, strong vigor, weak degree of branching

STEM: medium thickness, medium green, absent of anthocyanin colouration, weak pubescence

LEAF: alternate arrangement, simple type, elliptic and obovate shape, acute apex, attenuate base, serrate margin, no variegation, medium green, weak pubescence on upper side

SEPAL: narrow triangular shape, anthocyanin colouration present

INFLORESENCE: raceme type
FLOWER: positioned both terminally and axillarily, upright attitude, no anthocyanin colouration of the pedicel
COROLLA: upper lobe oblanceolate, upper lobe apex cuspidate, upper lobe white on the upper and lower side, lower lobe obovate, lower lobe white on upper and lower side, small green brown (RHS 151A) palate

Origin & Breeding History: 'Lobtrawi' originated from a controlled cross made by the breeder during July 2000 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, between the female parent A-925 and the male parent 'White Star'. The initial selection was in May 2001 based on flower colour, plant habit, and early flowering.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted in the summer of 2006 in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials consisted of 15 plants of each variety, each individually grown in 11cm pots in a polyhouse. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

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Lobelia: 'Lobtrawi' (left) with reference variety 'White Star' (right)