THE SELECTION OF GRASSLANDS PAHIA COTULA (LEPTINELLA-DIOICA HOOK.F.) FOR BOWLING GREENS

'Grasslands Pahia' cotula (Leptinella dioica Hook.f.) was selected fro m 526 samples collected mainly through northern New Zealand, to provid e a superior type for use on bowling greens. The collection was grown at Palmerston North, and sorted into 13 main morphological types which were evaluated as plots. The individual 526 genotypes were evaluated separately as replicated cores maintained under approximate bowling gr een conditions at three North Island sites. Data were collected for up to two years on colour, density, vigour, habit, and leaf fineness. In 1993, 27 of the best genotypes were evaluated under glasshouse condit ions to check their uniformity and botanical characteristics. Two of t he 27 were then blended to form the cultivar 'Grasslands Pahia'.