U.S. patent number PP11,787 [Application Number 09/137,554] was granted by the patent office on 2001-02-27 for mandevilla plant with double flower called `rita marie green`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Monrovia Nursery Company. Invention is credited to James Mitchell Green, Cecil Michael Green, Jr., Rita Marie Green.
United States Patent |
PP11,787 |
Green , et al. |
February 27, 2001 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Mandevilla plant with double flower called `Rita Marie Green`
Abstract
A new and distinct Mandevilla variety characterized by red to
red-purple double flowers having five parted outer corolla and
inner five parted ring of petaloids.
Inventors: |
Green; James Mitchell (Haines
City, FL), Green, Jr.; Cecil Michael (Haines City, FL),
Green; Rita Marie (Haines City, FL) |
Assignee: |
Monrovia Nursery Company
(Azusa, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22477960 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/137,554 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101); A01H 6/088 (20180501) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/23.2
;800/298,323 |
Other References
Color photograph of MandeVilla plant `Monite` (1 page). .
Letter bearing a date of Aug. 22, 1996 from Mike C. Green (11
pages). .
Memo entitled MN-AZUSA dated Sep. 4, 1996 (3 pages). .
J. Mitchell Green letter bearing the notation Jun. 21, 1997 (wrote)
mailed Jul. 1, 1997 (8 pages). .
Letter from Monrovia to Mitchell Green bearing facsimile notation
of Aug. 21, '97 (1 page)..
|
Primary Examiner: Smith; Lynette R. F.
Assistant Examiner: Kimball; Melissa L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Klarquist Sparkman Campbell Leigh
& Whinston LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct variety of Mandevilla plant having red to
red-purple double flowers substantially as shown and described
herein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new variety of Mandevilla plant,
called `Rita Marie Green`. This plant is believed to be different
from all previous known Mandevilla plants in that it possesses
double flowers. `Rita Marie Green` is useful as a woody vine that
produces decorative double blossoms. The double flowers of `Rita
Marie Green` enhance its appearance and make it especially
marketable, and therefore, useful. The botanical name for my new
variety is Mandevilla.times.amabilis `Rita Marie Green`.
The progenitor plant of `Rita Marie Green` was a Mandevilla of the
variety `Alice du Pont`, which does not have double flowers. `Alice
DuPont` is botanically known as Mandevilla.times.amabilis (an
interspecific hybrid of M. splendens and an undefined parent), and
therefore has the complete botanical name Mandevilla.times.amabilis
`Alice DuPont`.
The parent plant of the new variety was found in a group of `Alice
du Pont` Mandevilla plants growing in a cultivated area (in a
greenhouse) in Haines City, Fla. Thus, the new plant is understood
to be a mutation of the `Alice du Pont` variety of Mandevilla
plant. The new plant has been propagated from cuttings taken from
the parent plant and from progeny produced from such cuttings. My
new variety, `Rita Marie Green,` has been grown from at least five
successive generations of cuttings and each generation has only
generated plants that express double flowers (i.e. a first cutting
has been taken grown to maturity and then used to provide the
cutting for the next generation). In addition, culturing of the
`Rita Marie Green` variety auxillary bud tissue has also only
produced plants with double flowers. Hence, the double flower
phenotype is stable.
`Rita Marie Green` has not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions and its phenotype may vary significantly
with variations in environment such as temperature, light
intensity, and day length, without any variation in genotype.
However, the following unique charactristic has been repeatedly
observed in asexually propagated progeny of `Rita Marie Green` and
distinguish it from all other Mandevilla varieties: double flowers
which are red to red-purple and comprise an outer corolla of five
petals or limbs and an inner flower comprising a ring of petaloids.
This double flower structure is unique among Mandevilla plants and
is a characteristic of all `Rita Marie Green` variety plants,
including the variety `Monite`. The inner petaloids comprise five
inner petaloids in a cluster within the outer corolla limbs. In
some cases, the inner petaloids assume an upright or trumpet-like
configuration generally prohibiting a view of the inner throat and
forming a "flower-within-flower" cluster; in other cases, the inner
petaloids are more laid back against the outer petals, exposing the
throat of the plant; in relatively rare instances, the inner
petaloids assume a folded, almost rose-like appearance or,
alternatively, a windmill-like appearance. However, in all cases,
the flower within a flower characteristic of this new Mandevilla
variety is outstanding.
This double flowering characteristic is established and transmitted
through succeeding asexual propagations. There are several double
flower forms that have been exhibited by this plant, as described
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The following drawings are photographs of `Rita Marie Green.`
FIG. 1 is an anterior view of the double flower bloom of `Rita
Marie Green` showing the double flower structure made up of outer
five-parted corolla limbs and inner five-parted petaloids.
FIG. 2 is an posterior view of the double flower bloom of `Rita
Marie Green` showing the outer five-parted corolla attached to the
stem.
FIG. 3 is a view of the foliage of `Rita Marie Green` showing its
elliptic green leaves.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following is a detailed description of the invention based on
plants grown at the inventors' nursery in Haines City, Fla., and at
a nursery in Azusa, Calif. All four of the double flower forms
disclosed herein were obtained by growing plants of `Rita Marie
Green` in the same environmental conditions. Color descriptions are
according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. Other
terminology is used herein in accordance with ordinary dictionary
significance or as commonly used by those of ordinary skill in the
relevant art, unless otherwise noted.
THE PLANT
Foliage:
Type.--Evergreen.
Shape.--Elliptic (linear to oblong). Apex: Long to short acuminate
tip. Base: Cordate.
Length.--Variable from about 9.5 cm to 15 cm.
Width.--Variable from about 4.6 cm to 8.2 cm.
Color.--Upper foliage: Green group R.H.S. 139A to green group
R.H.S. 137A. Lower foliage: Yellow-green group R.H.S. 146B.
Arrangement on stem: Opposite. Margins: Entire. Habit: The `Rita
Marie Green` variety has a vigorous twining habit and is an ideal
semi-tropical creeper. A mature plant of the variety `Rita Marie
Green` has twining stems 15 to 20 feet long and produces leaves
that are large and glossy. Disease Resistance: The `Rita Marie
Green` variety is not known to be unusually tolerant to any
pathogens. Frost Tolerance: The `Rita Marie Green` variety is
tolerant to temperatures as low as approximately 30.degree. F.
Fragrance: Flowers of the `Rita Marie Green` variety have a slight
sweet fragrance.
Flowers:
Form 1.--Arrangement: Axillary racemes. Color: Upper surface of
petals. Corolla and petaloids: Red-purple group R.H.S. 58B and 58C.
Petaloids (within throat): Slight striations of white group R.H.S.
155A and 155B and yellow group R.H.S. 2 within 1 cm of base of
inner throat. Corolla (within throat): Yellow group R.H.S. 2 within
2 cm of base of inner throat. Underside of petals: Red-purple group
R.H.S. 58B and 58C, mixed with red-purple R.H.S. group 62A, 62B,
62C, and 62D and white group R.H.S. 155D. Reproductive structures:
Style: Generally present, about 8 mm to 11 mm in length. Stamens:
Absent, developed into showy petals. Structure: Overall, funnel
shaped. Likely reproductive structures are sterile due to "double"
flowers with typical five-numbered stamens converted to petaloids.
Outer five parted funnel-shaped corolla limbs. Inner five parted
petaloids. Petaloids within the corolla to form a double flower.
Corolla: Width: about 10.5 cm to 11.0 cm. Length of throat from
calyx to corolla limb attachment: about 4.4 cm to 4.9 cm. Length of
corolla from calyx to top of corolla: about 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm.
Individual corolla limbs: 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm long, 3.5 cm to 5.5 cm
wide. Asymmetrical in shape, ending in a short, abrupt tip.
Petaloids (converted stamens): Individual petaloid length: about
4.0 cm to 4.5 cm. Individual petaloid width: about 3.5 cm to 5.0
cm. Petaloid attachment: about 1.5 cm above top of calyx. Petaloid
fusion: Fused about 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm at base. Shape: Symmetrical
short, abrupt tip. Petaloids are flattened and opened, resembling
outer corolla. Length approximately equal to outer corolla,
exhibiting a fully double appearance. Petaloids overlay corolla
limbs exposing yellow inner base of tube.
Form 2.--Overall Structure: Funnel shaped. Outer five parted
corolla limbs. Inner five parted petaloids. Petaloids have defined
difference; shorter than corolla and remain in a cluster within
center of corolla, not opening flat as in Form 1. Tight cluster
habit of petaloids generally prohibits view of inner throat.
Cluster of flower within flower. Corolla: Width: about 9.0 cm to
10.5 cm. Length of throat from calyx to corolla limb attachment:
about 4.3 cm to 4.8 cm. Length of corolla from calyx to top of
corolla: about 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Individual corolla limbs: about
4.0 cm to 5.0 cm long, 3.6 cm to 4.6 cm wide. Asymmetrical in
shape, ending in an abrupt tip. Petaloids (converted stamens):
Individual petaloid length: about 3.5 cm to 5.0 cm. Individual
petaloid width: about 4.0 cm to 5.2 cm. Petaloid attachment: about
1.5 cm above top of calyx. Petaloid fusion: Fused, sometimes
separated 2.0 cm at base. Shape: Somewhat symmetrical, undulate.
Petaloids have defined distance, shorter than corolla and remaining
in a cluster within outer corolla, not opening flat as in Form 1.
Tight cluster habit of petaloids generally prohibits view of inner
throat. Cluster of flower within flower.
Form 3.--Rarely observed, inner five petaloids folded to provide a
rose flower-like appearance. Overall Structure: Outer five parted
corolla limbs, inner five parted petaloids. Width of corolla:
9-10.5 cm. Length of corolla throat from calyx to corolla limb
attachment: 4.3-4.8 cm. Length of corolla from calyx to top of
corolla: 6-7 cm. Outer corolla limbs: 4.5 cm. long. Inner
petaloids: 4 cm long. Reproductive Structures: Style: Absent.
Stamens: Absent. Shape: Inner petaloids flattened and opened,
resembling outer corolla. Similar to Form #1. Color: Corolla and
petaloids: Red-purple group 58B and 58C, and red-purple group 62B,
62C and 62D. Petaloids within throat exhibit white blotches and
streaks of white group 155A and 155B, and yellow group 2 within one
centimeter of inner throat. Corolla within throat: Yellow group 2
within 1.5 cm of base of inner throat.
Form 4.--Rarely observed, inner five petaloids assume a
windmill-like appearance. Overall structure: Outer five parted
corolla limbs, inner five parted petaloids. Width of corolla: 9 cm.
Length of corolla from calyx to top of corolla: 6 cm. Outer corolla
limbs: 4 cm. Inner petaloids: 3 cm. Reproductive structures: Style:
Absent. Stamens: Absent. Color: Corolla and petaloids: Red-purple
group 58B and 58C, and red-purple group 62A, 62B, 62C and 62D,
interspersed with mottled white blotches on petaloids green-yellow
at base 3 mm by 2 mm.
The reason for the varied appearance of the double flowers has yet
to be determined. However, the red to red-purple double flower
characteristics are established and transmitted through succeeding
asexual propagations.
Asexual reproduction of `Rita Marie Green` has been performed from
cuttings. Other conventional methods for propagation of Mandevilla
varieties may also be used.
* * * * *