Balriorose

Portulaca/purslane

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Summer Joy Rose' (Yubi Summer Joy Rose) and 'Balrioapt' (Rio Apricot)

Summary: 'Balriorose' differs from the reference varieties, 'Summer Joy Rose' and 'Balrioapt' mainly in colour and intensity of anthocyanin colouration of shoots, leaf blade width, flower diameter and colour, stigma colour and pistil size. The shoots of 'Balriorose' have very weak, brown anthocyanin colouration on the shoots whereas it is medium-strength purple-brown in 'Summer Joy Rose' and very weak light purple in 'Balrioapt'. The leaves of 'Balriorose' are wider than those of 'Balrioapt'. The flower diameter of 'Balriorose' is smaller than that of 'Summer Joy Rose' and wider than that of 'Balrioapt'. The flowers of 'Balriorose' are lighter red-purple than those of 'Summer Joy Rose' and darker red-purple than those of 'Belrioapt' which are more pink. The stigma of 'Balriorose' is pink whereas it is yellow-orange in 'Summer Joy Rose'. The pistil of 'Balriorose' is medium in size whereas it is large in both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: annual, spreading to drooping growth habit, dense branching, medium thickness of shoots, light green shoots with very weak brown anthocyanin colouration spread randomly on shoot.

LEAF: alternate arrangement of simple leaves, elliptic and obovate with an acute and obtuse apex, cuneate base, dark green upper surface, strong intensity of purple anthocyanin colouration along the margin edges on the upper surface, medium to dark green on lower surface, petiole absent

CALYX: opposite arrangement, two sepals, broad ovate
FLOWER: inflorescence type, one open flower, terminal location, concave to flat in profile
COROLLA LOBES: overlapping, medium fringing of margins, retuse at tip, weak undulation of margins, reflexing of margins absent
STAMEN: green and red filament, orange anther
PISTIL: medium-sized, pink style, pink stigma

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balriorose' arose as the result of crossing the variety, 'Wild Fire Rose' with the variety 'Yubi® Rose' in January 2002 at Dulce Nombre de Cartago, Costa Rica. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a series of proprietary portulaca varieties unique in its characteristics from other portulaca varieties. Initial selection and reproduction by vegetative cuttings first began in June, 2002.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Balriorose' were conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario during the spring of 2006. The trial included a total of 15 plants of both the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 6 inch pots on April 26, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on July 13, 2006. All colour measurements were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balriorose' with reference varieties 'Summer Joy Rose' and 'Balrioapt'

Leaf: blade width (cm)

Flower: diameter (cm)

Colour of upper surface of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of lower surface of corolla lobe (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Portulaca/purslane: 'Balriorose' (left) with reference variety 'Summer Joy Rose' (centre) and 'Balrioapt' (right)