Patent Publication Number: US-PP25396-P2

Title: Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV18302’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Verbena hybrida.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKAV18302’. 
     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 ‘RIKAV18302’. 
     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. 
     The new  Verbena  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 5, 2010 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena hybrida  identified as code number 09V852-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with  Verbena hybrida  ‘USBENAL8’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,853, 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. 9, 2011. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Verbena  plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 10, 2011 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 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 ‘RIKAV18302’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RIKAV18302’ as a new and distinct  Verbena  plant:
         1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.   2. Vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely branching habit.   4. Dark green-colored leaves.   5. Freely flowering habit.   6. Large dark violet-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane.   7. Relatively tolerant to powdery mildew.       

     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 freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘USBENAL8’. Plants of the new  Verbena  differ primarily from plants of ‘USBENAL8’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  have larger leaves than plants of ‘USBENAL8’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  and ‘USBENAL8’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘USBENAL8’ have violet blue-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can be compared to plants of the  Verbena hybrida  ‘AKIV572-1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,050. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new  Verbena  differed primarily from plants of ‘AKIV572-1’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  were more vigorous than plants of ‘AKIV572-1’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  had larger flowers and inflorescences than plants of ‘AKIV572-1’.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  and ‘AKIV572-1’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘AKIV572-1’ have light violet-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Verbena  can also be compared to plants of the  Verbena hybrida  ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new  Verbena  differed primarily from plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Verbena  were more freely branching than plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.   2. Plants of the new  Verbena  had larger flowers and than plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.   3. Plants of the new  Verbena  were more tolerant to powdery mildew than plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.       

    
    
     
       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 ‘RIKAV18302’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV18302’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late autumn in 11.4-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 38° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time at planting and were two months 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  ‘RIKAV18302’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary seedling selection of  Verbena hybrida  identified as code number 09V852-01, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent.—Verbena hybrida  ‘USBENAL8’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,853.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting .—Vegetative tip 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, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about eight primary lateral branches developing per plant each with numerous secondary branches; pinching enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     Plant height .—About 15 cm.     Plant diameter  ( spread ).—About 46 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Length .—About 26 cm.     Diameter .—About 3 mm.     Internode length .—About 3.4 cm.     Orientation .—Initially upright then outwardly spreading and decumbent.     Strength .—Strong.     Texture .—Pubescent; minute.     Color .—Close to 146B.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite, simple.     Length .—About 7.8 cm.     Width .—About 4.5 cm.     Shape .—Nearly deltoid to ovate.     Apex .—Broadly acute.     Base .—Attenuate.     Margin .—Broadly crenate.     Texture, upper and lower surfaces .—Pubescent; coarse, hirsute.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate; reticulate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 148C.     Petiole .—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement and habit .—Sessile salverform flowers arranged in flattened hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 28 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more than 1,300 flowers per plant.     Natural flowering season .—Plants flower continuously from spring through the autumn in southern California; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about five weeks after planting.     Flower longevity .—Flowers last about five to seven days on the plant; flowers not persistent.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Inflorescence height .—About 3.5 cm.     Inflorescence diameter .—About 6 cm.     Flower buds .—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to N88C to N88D.     Flower diameter .—About 2 cm.     Flower depth  ( height ).—About 3.1 cm.     Throat diameter .—About 2 mm.     Tube length .—About 2.4 cm.     Tube diameter, proximal .—About 1.5 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 to cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N88A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 90C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 86A; color becoming closer to 86C with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 86D; color becoming closer to N88C with development. Throat, inner surface: Close to 85C to 85D, almost white in appearance; distally, small ring, close to 85B. Tube, outer surface: Close to 86D.     Calyx .—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused towards the base into a slender tube. Sepal length: About 1.5 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal texture, outer surface: Pubescent; minute. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 148B to 148C. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 147B.     Peduncles .—Length: About 6.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.     Reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four per flower, filaments are adnate to corolla tube. Filament length, free section: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 151 C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 150D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded, bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 146C. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144A. 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 1° C. to about 40° C.   Pathogen &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Verbena  have been observed to be relatively tolerant to powdery mildew. Plants of the new  Verbena  have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to  Verbena  plants.