Patent Publication Number: US-PP17712-P2

Title: Verbena plant named ‘Swestrena’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:  Verbena×hybrida.    
   Varietal denomination: ‘Swestrena’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
   The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of  Verbena,  botanically known as  Verbena×hybrida.  The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from a mutation found in ‘Arbena.’ ‘Arbena’ is patented as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,760. 
   As a result of this finding the present cultivar was created in 2003 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two year period. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. 
   This new  Verbena  plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     This new  Verbena  plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR 
   The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new  Verbena.  The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5 cm container. 
   Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 1 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
                Differences between the new cultivar ‘Swestrena,’  and a similar cultivar 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                                  ‘Swestrena’ 
               ‘Arbena’ 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
               Flower shape 
               Closed 
               Flat 
             
             
               Flower color 
               Rosy red bleaching with star pattern 
               Rosy red bleaching 
             
             
               Branching 
               Very good 
               Good 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Tukana Strawberry and Cream.’ The patented name of this variety is ‘Arbena’ and its U.S. Plant Pat. No. is 15,760.
     The plant:
             Classification. —Botanical:  Verbena×hybrida.        Parentage. —Mutation of ‘Arbena’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,760).     Growth habit. —Vigorous, later spreading, decumbent.     Plant height. —12-15 cm.     Spreading area of plant. —55-85 cm.     Branching character. —Freely branching and lateral branching at every node.     Number of branches per plant. —32-45.     Blooming period. —From April until November.       
       The stem:
             Diameter. —2-2.5 mm.     Length. —12-20 cm.     Shape. —Tetragonal.     Anthocyanin pigmentation. —Absent.     Color of the stem. —137C.     Length of internode. —9-20 mm.     Pubescence. —Slightly pubescent.     Length lateral branches. —12-18 cm.       
       The foliage:
             Phyllotaxis. —Opposite.     Shape of blade. —Broadly ovate.     Texture. —Upper side: Pubescent. Lower side: Pubescent.     Venation. —Pinnate.     Leaf margin. —Simple incised.     Leaf base. —Shortly attenuate.     Leaf apex. —Apiculate.     Length. —18-32 mm.     Width. —8-15 mm.     Depth of incision. —2-3 mm.     Number of incisions. —4-12 per leaf.     Color. —Upper side: 137B. Lower side: 138A.     Pubescence. —Some pubescence is present.     Length of petiole. —2-3 mm.     Petiole surface structure. —Slightly pubescent.     Petiole diameter. —1 mm.     Petiole coloration. —144C.       
       The bud:
             Peduncle length. —40-70 mm.     Peduncle diameter. —1 mm.     Peduncle color. —137C.     Budsize. —Diameter: 2 mm. Length: 8-12 mm.     Budshape. —Elongated and ovate.     Bud color. —137C.     Sepals. —Color (Upper side): 143C. Color (Lower side): 143C. Form: Upright. Number: 5, fused. Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 2 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.       
       The flower:
             Flower diameter. —18-20 mm.     Flower height. —17-19 mm.     Flower tube length. —14-17 mm.     Flower throat diameter. —2-3 mm.     Flower throat color. —155C.     Flower shape. —Upright.     Inflorescence. —Corymb.     Flower - form. —Single, salverform; sessile on terminal corymbs.     Petal colour. —Upper side: From 39B on the edge to a bit darker than N34B close to the center. A light pink to white linear stripe on each petal occurs. The color of this stripe is from 39C to N155C. Lower side: 155C.     Eye. —No eye.     Overlapping of petals. —Separate.     No. of petals. —Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.     Petal apex. —Obcordate.     Petal base. —Fused.     Petal margin. —Entire.     Petal surface texture. —Smooth.     Size of the petal. —Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 5-8 mm.     Inflorescence. —Length: 20-40 mm. Diameter: 40-50 mm.     Calyx length. —9-12 mm.     Calyx diameter. —3 mm.     Anthocyanin pigmentation of Calyx limb. —Absent.     Color of the calyx. —137C.     No. of flowers per inflorescence. —20-40.     No. of corymbs per plant. —120-180.     Fragrance. —No fragrance.     Bloom time of one inflorescence. —New florets continue to open in one corymb over a period of 13 days.     Lastingness of one flower. —2-4 days.       
       The reproductive organs:
             Androecium. —Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: 1 mm. Anther color: 144B. Pollen amount: No pollen.     Gynoecium. —Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 2.0-2.4 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length: 1.9 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144C.       
       Seeds: No fruit or seeds are observed.   Roots:
             Type of roots. —Fibrous, color 155C. Roots start to grow on every part of the stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the nodes.       
       Physiological and ecological characteristics: Tolerates temperatures ranging from 0 to 38 degrees Celsius.