Patent Publication Number: US-PP28805-P3

Title: Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP15481’

Description:
Genus and species:  Verbena×hybrida.    
     Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP15481’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
     The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of  Verbena , botanically known as  Verbena×hybrida , and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEVP15481’. ‘KLEVP15481’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in January 2011 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia between the proprietary female  Verbena  variety ‘V9113’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male  Verbena  variety ‘V974’ (unpatented). 
     The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP15481’ was selected from the group of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October 2011. 
     In October 2011, ‘KLEVP15481’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. ‘KLEVP15481’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.
         1. Large pink flowers with large white eyes; and   2. A semi-upright growth habit.       

    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       This new  Verbena  plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant&#39;s overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a 13-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2013. 
     
    
    
     The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
     The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP15481’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in June 2015 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2007.
     Classification:
             Family .—Verbenaceae.     Botanical.—Verbena×hybrida.        Common.—Verbena.        Designation .—‘KLEVP15481’.       
       Parentage:
             Female parent .—The proprietary female  verbena  variety ‘V9113’ (unpatented).     Male parent .—The proprietary male  verbena  variety ‘V974’ (unpatented).       
       Plant:
             Growth habit .—Semi-upright.     Height  ( from top of soil ).—36.0 cm.     Width  ( horizontal plant diameter ).—41.0 cm.     Time to produce a finished flowering plant .—Approximately 8 weeks.     Time to initiate and develop roots.— 3 weeks.     Root description .—RHS 155B (White); fine and fibrous roots.       
       Stems:
             Number of branches per plant .—Around 20.     Length.— 26.0 cm.     Diameter.— 0.26 cm.     Internode length .—Approximately 2.5 cm.     Color .—RHS 130D.     Anthocyanin .—Absent.     Texture and appearance .—Pubescent, round.       
       Leaves:
             Arrangement .—Opposite.     Immature and mature leaf color .—Upper surface: RHS 141A. Lower surface: RHS 141C.     Length.— 3.5 cm.     Width.— 1.4 cm.     Shape .—Lanceolate.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Obtuse.     Margin .—Entire.     Texture .—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.     Venation type .—Pinnate.     Venation color  ( both upper and lower surfaces ).—RHS 141D.     Petioles .—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D. Texture: Leathery.       
       Flower buds:
             Shape .—Tall, cylindrical.     Length.— 0.5 cm.     Diameter.— 0.2 cm.     Color  ( at tight bud ).—RHS N74B.       
       Inflorescence:
             Blooming habit  ( flowering season ).—Continuously.     Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.— 7 to 10 days.     Fragrance .—Absent.     Inflorescence type .—Umbel.     Length of inflorescence.— 4.2 cm.     Diameter of inflorescence.— 5.4 cm.     Number of florets per inflorescence .—More than 14.     Peduncle .—Color: RHS 141A. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.       
       Florets:
             Length.— 1.6 cm.     Diameter.— 2.2 cm.     Texture .—Glossy.     Form .—Single.     Corolla tube length.— 1.3 cm.     Corolla tube color  ( outer surface ).—RHS 56A.     Petals .—Length of lobe: 1.4 cm. Diameter of lobe: 1.3 cm. Lobe shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy, satiny. Color: Immature: Upper surface: RHS 61C. Lower surface: RHS 63B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS N57C. Lower surface: RHS 70C. Eyes: RHS 155B.     Pedicels .—Not visible.       
       Sepals:
             Shape .—Lanceolate.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Obtuse.     Margin .—Entire.     Length.— 0.45 cm.     Diameter.— 0.36 cm.     Color .—RHS 141C.     Texture  ( both upper and lower surfaces ).—Hairy, dull.       
       Reproductive organs:
             Stamens .—Present. Quantity: 4. Color: RHS 139D. Filament length: 0.5 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 150B. Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Pollen amount: Moderate.     Pistils .—Number: 1. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 144A. Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 139C. Length: 0.9 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long.       
       Fruit and seed set: None observed.   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ).   

     COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY 
     ‘KLEVP15481’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison with Parental Lines 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Female parent 
                 Male parent 
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘KLEVP15481’ 
                 ‘V9113’ 
                 ‘V974’ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Flower color 
                 Pink 
                 Red 
                 Pink 
               
               
                 Flower size 
                 Larger than 
                 Smaller than 
                 Smaller than 
               
               
                   
                 ‘V9113’ and ‘V974’ 
                 ‘KLEVP15481’ 
                 ‘KLEVP15481’ 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     ‘KLEVP15481’ is most similar to the commercial  verbena  ‘Balazwilro’, also known commercially as ‘Aztec Wild Rose’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,101). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison with Similar Variety 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘KLEVP15481’ 
                 ‘Balazwilro’ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Appearance of eyes 
                 Large, white eyes 
                 Small, white eyes 
               
               
                 Immediate color 
                 RHS 76B (Light-violet) 
                 None 
               
               
                 bordering eyes