Patent Publication Number: US-PP29013-P3

Title: Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV38602’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Verbena hybrida.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKAV38602’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant, botanically known as  Verbena hybrida , and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RIKAV38602’. 
     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 vigorous and freely-branching  Verbena  plants with numerous flowers and tolerance to Powdery Mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ). 
     The new  Verbena  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 20, 2013 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena hybrida  identified as code number 12V258-05, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena hybrida  identified as code number 08V665-02, 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 Jun. 11, 2014. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Verbena  plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 12, 2014, 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 ‘RIKAV38602’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RIKAV38602’ as a new and distinct  Verbena  plant:
         1. Compact, mounding and upright to eventually trailing plant habit.   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely branching habit.   4. Dark green-colored leaves.   5. Freely flowering habit.   6. Relatively large dark burgundy-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane.   7. Relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ).       

     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 ‘Lan Peachy’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have lighter burgundy-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 the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more compact than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more freely flowering than plants of the male parent selection.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the  Verbena hybrida  ‘Usbenal5’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,851. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of ‘Usbenal5’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more compact than plants of ‘Usbenal5’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  have narrower leaves than plants of ‘Usbenal5’.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  and ‘Usbenal5’ differ in flower color as flowers of ‘Usbenal5’ are purple in color.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the  Verbena hybrida  ‘KLEVP08383’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,056. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of ‘KLEVP08383’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more freely branching than plants of ‘KLEVP08383’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  are more freely flowering than plants of ‘KLEVP08383’.       

    
    
     
       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 actual colors of the new  Verbena  plant. 
       The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV38602’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV38602’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial  Verbena  production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and light levels averaged 1,500 foot-candles. Plants were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Verbena hybrida  ‘RIKAV38602’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena hybrida  identified as code number 12V258-05, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent .—Proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena hybrida  identified as code number 08V665-02, 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 21° 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 21° C.     Root description .—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching; medium density.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Compact, mounding and upright to eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about eight to nine primary lateral branches developing per plant each secondary branches potentially developing at every node; pinching is not required; dense and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.     Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane .—About 9.5 cm.     Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane .—About 15 cm.     Plant diameter  ( spread ).—About 27 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Length .—Variable, about 20 cm.     Diameter .—About 2 mm.     Internode length .—About 1.5 cm.     Orientation .—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to trailing.     Strength .—Strong.     Texture and luster .—Pubescent; dull.     Color, developing .—Close to 144A.     Color, developed .—Close to 146B.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite, simple.     Length .—About 2.8 cm.     Width .—About 2 cm.     Shape .—Ovate to somewhat deltoid.     Apex .—Broadly acute.     Base .—Truncate.     Margin .—Crenate.     Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Pubescent, coarse, hirsute; dull.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate; reticulate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146D.     Petioles .—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; dull. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement and habit .—Sessile salverform flowers arranged in upright hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 34 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more than 1,000 flowers developing per plant.     Natural flowering season .—Plants flower continuously from spring until frost in Michigan; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting.     Flower longevity .—Flowers last about five days on the plant; flowers not persistent.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Inflorescence height .—About 4.5 cm.     Inflorescence diameter .—About 5 cm.     Flower buds .—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close to 187B.     Flower diameter .—About 1.6 cm by 1.7 cm.     Flower depth  ( height ).—About 2.2 cm.     Throat diameter .—About 1 mm.     Tube length .—About 1.8 cm.     Tube diameter, distally .—About 1 mm.     Corolla .—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe length: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 8 mm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety, dull. Petal texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent, minute; dull. Throat texture: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Tube texture: Pubescent, minute; slightly glossy. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 187A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to N186D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187A; venation, close to 187A; color does not change with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to N186D; distally, narrow band, close to 84D; venation, close to 187B; color does not change with development. Throat: Close to N87D; venation, close to N87D. Tube: Close to more grey than N87D; towards the base, close to 195D; venation, close to 195D.     Calyx .—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused towards the base into a slender tube. Sepal length: About 9 mm. Sepal width: Less than 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire Sepal texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Sepal texture and luster, outer surface: Pubescent; minute; dull. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.     Peduncles .—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster: Pubescent; dull. Color: Close to 146A.     Reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube. Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Round. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 150C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 8C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144B. Fruits and seeds: 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 7° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11.   Pathogen &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Verbena  have been observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ). Plants of the new  Verbena  have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to  Verbena  plants.