Scawihatis

Scaevola

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'White Champ'

Summary: The growth habit for 'Scawihatis' changes from upward arching in young plants to horizontal in older plants while for 'White Champ', it changes from upright in young plants to horizontal-cascading in older plants. Pubescence of the stems is sparse for 'Scawihatis' whereas it is moderately dense for 'White Champ'. 'Scawihatis' has longer petals than 'White Champ'. The yellow secondary colour at the base of the corolla on the upper side is more prominent for 'Scawihatis' than 'White Champ'.

Description:

'Scawihatis' is a vegetatively propagated, annual type scaevola variety with horizontal growth habit in the mature plant. It has moderate to many branches. The medium thick stems are medium green in colour with no anthocyanin colouration and sparse pubescence. The shape of the stems is smooth with no edges.

Arrangement of the simple leaves is alternate. The leaf blades are obovate in shape with an acute shaped apex and attenuate shaped base. The margins of the leaves are irregularly serrate. Pubescence of the leaf blades is sparse to moderate on the upper side and sparse on the veins and leaf margins only, on the lower side. The main colour of leaf blades is medium green on the upper and lower sides. There is no variegation of the leaves and no petiole.

'Scawihatis' begins flowering early and has a long, almost continuous flowering period. The sepals are linear in shape with an acute shaped apex. The simple type flowers are positioned at the leaf axils and have a semi-erect to horizontal attitude in relation to the stem. Each corolla is comprised of five petals which are fused at their base to form a fan shape. Arrangement of the petals is open to touching. They are elliptic to oblanceolate in shape with a mucronate shaped apex and weakly recurved tip. The margin of the petals is entire. Main colour of the petals is white with light green and prominent yellow secondary colours at the base of the corolla.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Scawihatis' originated from a controlled cross between a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula, 'A102', and another proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula, 'A110' which took place at Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 1999. It was selected in 2000 as a flowering plant among the progeny of this cross which were located in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. Selection criteria for ' Scawihatis' included white flower colour, flowering time, light green leaf colour and lack of anthocyanin colouration of the leaves.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Scawihatis' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2003 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial consisted of 15 plants per variety. All plants were grown from unrooted cuttings, stuck May 30, 2003 (week 22) and transplanted into 15cm pots on June 28, 2003 (week 26). All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Scawihatis' with reference variety 'White Champ'

Petal length (mm)

Colour of upper side of petals (RHS)