Patent Publication Number: US-PP34411-P2

Title: Verbena plant named ‘WNVECPPUR’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Verbena rigida.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘WNVECPPUR’. 
     CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Title:  Verbena  Plant Named ‘WNVECPPK’ 
     Inventor/Applicant: Rika Matsumoto 
     Patent application Ser. No. 17/371,695 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant, botanically known as  Verbena rigida , commonly referred to as Tuberous  Verbena  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘WNVECPPUR’. 
     The new  Verbena  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new  Verbena rigida  plants with improved plant habit and new and unique flower colors. 
     The new  Verbena  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 20, 2016 in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena rigida  identified as code number 09V985-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified pink-colored selection of  Verbena rigida , not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Verbena  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 26, 2017. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Verbena  plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 29, 2017, has shown that the unique features of this new  Verbena  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Verbena  have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WNVECPPUR’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WNVECPPUR’ as a new and distinct  Verbena  plant:
         1. Initially upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.   3. Freely branching habit.   4. Dark green-colored leaves.   5. Early and freely flowering habit.   6. Rounded inflorescences with violet-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane.   7. Good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more compact than and not as vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more outwardly spreading than and not as upright as plants of the female parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  have violet-colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have purple-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new  Verbena  have violet-colored flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored flowers. 
     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the  Verbena rigida  ‘WNVECPPK’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of ‘WNVECPPK’ in flower color as plants of the new  Verbena  have violet-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘WNVECPPK’ have purplish pink-colored flowers. 
     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the  Verbena rigida  ‘Polaris’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of ‘Polaris’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more compact than plants of ‘Polaris’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more spreading than and not as upright as plants of ‘Polaris’.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  have more flexible stems than plants of ‘Polaris’.   4. Plants of the new  Verbena  have violet-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Polaris’ have pale lilac-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can also be compared to plants of the  Verbena bonariensis  X  Verbena hybrida  ‘INVEBPUTOW’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,722. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more spreading than and not as upright as plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  have more flexible stems than plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  have violet-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’ have purple violet- colored flowers.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Verbena  plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new  Verbena  plant. 
       The photograph on the first sheet ( FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNVECPPUR’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph on the second sheet ( FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNVECPPUR’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 10.8-cm containers in a corrugated polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Carlton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial  Verbena  production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels averaged 9,290 foot-candles. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting and were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Verbena rigida  ‘WNVECPPUR’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena rigida  identified as code number 09V985-01, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent .—Unidentified selection of  Verbena rigida , not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting .—Vegetative terminal cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer .—About three days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter .—About four days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.     Time to produce a rooted plant, summer .—About 15 days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.     Time to produce a rooted plant, winter .—About 20 days at temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.     Root description .—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching; medium density.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Initially upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially developing at every node, pinching enhances branching potential; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     Plant height .—About 9 cm to 11 cm.     Plant diameter  ( spread ).—About 36 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Length .—About 33 cm.     Diameter .—About 2.5 mm.     Internode length .—About 5 cm to 6.25 cm.     Orientation .—Initially upright then outwardly spreading; horizontal to downward.     Strength .—Strong; flexible.     Texture and luster .—Densely pubescent; pubescence is short, fine and rough; matte; becoming woody with subsequent development.     Color, developing .—Close to 146A.     Color, developed .—Close to 147A variably tinged with close to 187A; if woody, close to 199A to 199B.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite, simple; sessile.     Length .—About 5.5 cm to 6 cm.     Width .—About 1.5 cm to 1.75 cm.     Shape .—Oblong.     Apex .—Acuminate.     Base .—Cuneate to obtuse.     Margin .—Irregularly serrate.     Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Moderately pubescent, rough; coriaceous; slightly rugose; matte.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between 139A and 147A; venation, proximally, close to 144A and distally, close to between 139A and 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Darker green than 146A; venation, close to 146A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement and habit .—Sessile salverform flowers arranged in rounded to almost spherical terminal cymes with two to three inflorescences per terminal; flowers face upward or outwardly depending on the position in the inflorescence; freely flowering habit with about 18 to 24 open flowers at one time per inflorescence and about 75 to 80 flowers developing per inflorescence; numerous inflorescences develop per plant during the flowering season.     Natural flowering season .—Plants flower continuously from spring until the autumn; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about five to six weeks after planting.     Flower longevity .—Flowers last about five to seven days on the plant; flowers not persistent.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Inflorescence height .—About 3.75 cm.     Inflorescence diameter .—About 4 cm.     Flower buds .—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146A slightly and variably tinged with close to 187A.     Flower diameter .—About 1.1 cm.     Flower depth  ( height ).—About 1.2 cm.     Throat diameter .—About 1.25 mm.     Tube length .—About 9 mm.     Tube diameter, proximally .—About 1.75 mm.     Corolla .—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals fused towards the base into a slender narrow tube. Petal lobe length: About 5 mm. Petal lobe width: About 4 mm. Petal lobe shape: Oblong. Petal lobe apex: Obtuse to retuse. Petal margin: Entire; not undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Tube texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Petal lobes, when opening, upper surface: Close to 90A. Petal lobes, when opening, lower surface: Close to 90A to 90B. Petal lobes, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 90A; venation, close to 90A; color becoming closer to 90A to 90B with subsequent development. Petal lobes, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 90B; venation, close to 90B; color becoming closer to 90B to 90C with subsequent development. Throat: Distally, close to NN155D and proximally, close to N78A; venation, similar to lamina colors. Tube: Distally, close to 90D and proximally, close to N78A; venation, similar to lamina colors.     Calyx .—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused towards the base into a slender tube. Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Sepal length: About 7 mm. Sepal width: About 1.5 mm. Sepal shape: Acicular. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent; moderately glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Sepal color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 146A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 146A tinged with close to 187A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.     Peduncles .—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible, wiry. Aspect: Upright to 45° from stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; rough; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146A.     Reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 144A. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 144A. Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Style length: About 1.75 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144A. Fruits and seeds: To date, fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants of the new  Verbena.          
       Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new  Verbena  have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8a to 11b.   Pathogen &amp; pest resistance: To date, plants of the new  Verbena  have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Verbena  plants.