New classification system for flower- and petal-shapes of rose cultivars appropriate for field-work

In the case of cultivated rose (Rosa sp.), the current classification standards based on flower shapes are not suitable for efficient cultivar identification at field-works, because they are too analytical (UPOV) or oversimplified (WFRS). Seeing the shortcoming, a new, practice-oriented, classification system has been developed for flower shapes, using 1100 rose cultivars of the Budatétény Rose Garden (Budapest, Hungary). The new system separates general flower shapes from petal shapes and flower architectures, and takes into account that the rose flower cultivars can take numerous transient shapes. A suitable classification system must meet even the following criteria: The classes of the system should be recognizable and distinguishable under field-working conditions, however the number of the classes should be enough for the acceptable variety definition. By recording more than 8,000 flowers, our system distinguishes 35 flower shapes, which can be classified into 7 main groups, and in addition the system defines 14 other characteristic flower features (petal shapes and flower architectures) independent of the flower forms. The flower shapes are as follows: single (2 classes), convex (1 class), bowl shapes (6 classes), cup shapes (6 classes), biconcave shapes (8 classes), drop shapes (6 classes), closed shapes (6 classes). The petal shapes are: antennae shaped; emarginated; folded; irregular; pointed; rolled; serrated; upturned; wavy, while the flower architectures are: button-eye forming; collar forming; rosette forming; scaled; vegetative center.