U.S. patent number PP15,770 [Application Number 10/811,495] was granted by the patent office on 2005-05-17 for regal pelargonium named `elegance silver`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Penn State Research Foundation. Invention is credited to Richard Craig.
United States Patent |
PP15,770 |
Craig |
May 17, 2005 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Regal pelargonium named `Elegance Silver`
Abstract
A new and distinct regal geranium plant with white flowers
having purple feathering above medium green foliage. The new
cultivar exhibits extended flower longevity.
Inventors: |
Craig; Richard (State College,
PA) |
Assignee: |
The Penn State Research
Foundation (University Park, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
34574877 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/811,495 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/42 (20180501); A01H 5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/331 |
Primary Examiner: Bell; Kent
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Webb Ziesenheim Logsdon Orkin &
Hanson, P.C.
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant substantially as
shown and described.
Description
Botanical classification: Pelargonium.times.domesticum.
Varietal denomination: `Elegance Silver`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This discovery relates to a new and distinct cultivar of regal
Pelargonium (Pelargonium.times.domesticum) identified by the name
of `Elegance Silver`, Breeder No. 99-128-01 and Oglevee, Ltd. No.
629. The cultivar was discovered in an organized, scientifically
designed breeding program conducted at the Department of
Horticulture, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,
Pa. The purpose of the breeding program was to create new regal
Pelargonium genotypes with clear, bright flower colors, excellent
propagation characteristics, compact growth habit, predictable and
consistent flowering response and excellent postharvest quality.
The new cultivar is compact, self-branching (without pinching) and
early flowering. The flowers are white with a slight purple
feather. The most outstanding trait of this new cultivar is its
extended floral longevity.
The pistillate parent (Breeder No. 95-9-4) is a cross-pollination
of `Duchess` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,074) and Breeder No. 93-11-5
produced according to the pedigree appearing in FIG. 2. The
staminate parent (Breeder No. 95-10-3) was developed from prior
selections at The Pennsylvania State University since 1977
according to the pedigree appearing in FIG. 3. In the pedigrees of
FIGS. 2 and 3, the first two digits refer to the year that the
entry originated.
Two seeds of this hybrid were sown on Mar. 31, 1999 and were
identified as Breeder No. 99-128. One of the seeds germinated and
the seedling (Breeder No. 99-128-1) was grown to maturity and
produced its first inflorescence on Aug. 28, 1999. This seedling
was judged to be pollen fertile, have attractive flowers and to
display limited flower production.
This seedling was cultivated to produce a stock plant for
harvesting asexual propagules. The selection was asexually
propagated by cuttings on Oct. 14-15, 1999 at University Park, Pa.
These cuttings were placed into a mist facility and one cutting
produced roots. This cutting was floral initiated and grown to
maturity. Initial data were recorded on Feb. 25, 2000. The plant
was judged to have very good foliage, small height, good branching,
very good flowering, and overall was judged very good. Three
similar trials were evaluated in the spring (greenhouse) and summer
(garden) of 2000. All of the reproductions ran true. Subsequent
evaluations were conducted in the greenhouse (five times annually)
and garden (annually) in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The new cultivar was
trial and field tested in Connellsville, Pa. and was found to
retain its characteristics through successive asexual
generations.
The description of the new cultivar that is presented below was
developed from plants grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville,
Pa. Rooted cuttings were potted into 5" or 6" plastic Azalea pots
containing a 80% peat and 20% Perlite medium with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
The plants were grown for two weeks to establish a vigorous root
system. Environmental conditions were 62-64.degree. F. at night and
ventilation in the day when temperatures reached 70.degree. F. A
soluble fertilizer delivering 150 ppm of nitrogen and potassium was
used at each irrigation. At the end of two weeks, the plants were
moved to a floral initiation environment for four weeks that was
maintained at 54.degree. F. The area included supplemental
irradiance of 560 footcandles (fc) of High Intensity Discharge
(HID) lighting accomplished with high pressure sodium lamps from
700 to 2300 hours daily (16 hours). The lamps were not used when
natural irradiance was above 660 fc at plant level. In addition
long photoperiods were established with the application of 40 fc of
incandescent lamps for 16 hours daily; lamps were on for 15 minutes
and off for 45 minutes each hour. Plants were subjected to water
stress during this time. At the end of four weeks the plants were
moved to a forcing environment that was maintained at 60.degree. F.
at night and ventilated in the day when temperatures reached
67.degree. F. Supplemental irradiance was applied at 200 fc HID, as
described above, from 700-2300 hours. No chemical growth regulators
were applied.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a photographic drawing illustrating the new cultivar with
the color being as nearly true as is possible with color
illustrations of this type; and
FIG. 2 shows the pedigree of the pistillate parent; and
FIG. 3 shows the pedigree of the staminate parent.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT
The following detailed description set forth the characteristics of
the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were
collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Connellsville,
Pa. The color readings on a plant grown in a 5-inch pot were taken
indoors under 200-220 footcandles of cool white fluorescent light.
Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The
Royal Horticultural Society of London.
THE PLANT Classification: Botanical.--Pelargonium.times.domesticum.
Commercial.--Regal pelargonium. Form: Medium mound. Height:
20.0-26.0 cm from soil to top of foliage. Diameter: 20 cm to 26 cm.
Growth: Medium mound habit with free basal branching; continuous
flowering. Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment. Leaves:
Size.--5.9-11.9 cm across 5.2 cm to 8.5 cm long. Shape.--Reniform,
truncate base. Margin.--Serrated, slightly lobed. Texture.--Rough,
pubescent. Color.--Upper surface: Green Group 137C. Lower surface:
Green Group 138B. Zone: None. Ribs and veins.--Venation: Palmate.
Color: Yellow Green Group 147C. Petioles.--Length: 2.0-5.5 cm.
Color: Yellow Green Group 146C. Stem.--Color: Yellow Green Group
146C. Internode length: 1.5-2.5 cm. Length: 6.0 cm to 8.0 cm.
THE BUD Shape when just showing color.--Elliptical. Size when just
showing color.--1.5-2.0 cm long and 0.7 cm wide; 2.8-5.6 cm across
overall cluster. Buds per cluster.--3 to 12.
INFLORESCENCE Blooming habit: Large flower forming full
inflorescences. Borne: Flower on pedicel, pedicel on peduncle. Open
flower: Form.--Open to slightly cupped; petals overlap; edges
ruffled. Size of fully open bloom.--Umbels: Width: 8.5-11.5 cm.
Depth: 6.9-8.0 cm. Flowers: Length: 4.0-4.5 cm. Width: 5.3-7.0 cm.
Depth: 2.1-2.8 cm. Petals: Color.--Upper surface: Close to White
Group 155D with pearlescent finish. The upper two petals have a
petal base tipped in Purple Group 64B. Lower surface: Lower petals:
White Group 155D. Upper two petals: Base color of White Group 155D
with two `y` shaped veins of Purple Group 64A. A shadow of the top
surface can be seen due to the opaque quality of the petal. The
base of each of these two petals is tipped in Purple Group 64B.
Feather blotch (upper surface): Present on upper two petals: center
feather blotch is solid Gray Purple Group 187A bleeding into the
veins of the feather that are Purple Group 64A edged in Purple
Group 64B. Quantity.--5-6. Appearance.--Clear white blossoms with
upper petals feathered in purple displayed above medium green
foliage. Petaloids: None. Pedicel: Length.--2.0-2.5 cm.
Color.--Green Group 137B at base of flower with the rest of the
pedicel being Green Group 137C. Peduncle: Length.--4.5-6.0 cm.
Color.--Green Group 137C. Disease resistance: No susceptibility to
diseases or pests has been noted to date.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Stamens: Anthers.--2.0-3.0 mm long.
Filaments.--Length: 1.0-1.5 cm. Color: White Group 155D. Pollen
color.--Grayed Orange Group 169D. Pistils: Number.--1; five parted.
Length.--1.5 cm. Stigma color.--Red Purple Group 64A. Style.--1.1
cm long. Ovaries.--Length: 5.0-6.0 mm. Width: 2.0 mm. Color: Grayed
Green Group 191B. Fruit.--None observed.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
This cultivar is characterized by having greatly improved
postharvest floral longevity in the greenhouse, in market channels
and in the consumer environment over other varieties in this market
class known to the inventor.
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