Calibrachoa plant named `Sunbelriterra`

Abstract

A new calibrachoa plant particularly distinguished by yellow flowers with reddish-purple splashed patterns, abundant branching with a great profusion of blooms, continuous flowering from spring to late fall, excellent tolerance to rain and high temperatures, and a vigorous, mounding plant habit is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: `Sunbelriterra`.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Sunbelriterra`. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in April 2002 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The female parent was the proprietary calibrachoa plant `20` (unpatented), while the male parent was the proprietary calibrachoa plant `35` (unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. 1. Yellow flowers with reddish-purple splashed-patterns; 2. Abundant branching with a great profusion of blooms; 3. A vigorous and mounding plant habit; 4. Continuously blooms from spring to late fall; and 5. Excellent tolerance to rain and high temperatures.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 4-month-old plants grown outdoors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows mature flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of `Sunbelriterra`. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The plant history was taken on 4-month old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 15-cm pots in a spring trial setting in 2005 and grown outdoors in temperatures ranging between 13.degree. C. and 23.degree. C. The plants were pinched once in April 2005. Observations were made when the plants were in full flower in June 2005. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Classification: Family.--Solanaceae. Botanical.--Calibrachoa sp. Common name.--Calibrachoa. Parentage: Female parent.--`20`, a proprietary dark red (RHS 46A) flowered calibrachoa plant (unpatented). Male parent.--`35`, a proprietary cream-white (RHS 115A) flowered calibrachoa plant (unpatented). Growth: Form.--Annual. Habit.--Mounding, freely branching and vigorous. Height (measured from the top of the soil).--14.2 cm. Diameter.--50.0 cm. Propagation.--Terminal tips for cutting. Time to produce a finished flowering plant.--About 3 to 4 weeks for a 15-cm pot. Keeping quality.--210 days. Outdoor plant performance.--Use in pots, hanging baskets or planters and for use as ground cover; excellent tolerance to rain and high temperatures; pinching of the terminal apices enhances branching. Time to initiate and develop roots.--7 days at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C. Time to produce rooted cutting or liner (young plant).--21 days at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C. Root description.--Light brown, fibrous, fine, fleshy and free-branching. Stems: Description.--Round in cross-section. Number of branches.--30 lateral branches. Length of lateral branches.--18.0 cm. Diameter of lateral branches.--0.16 cm. Aspect.--Upright to outward. Stem color.--RHS 144A. Internode length.--2.4 cm. Anthocyanin.--Absent. Texture.--Pubescent. Leaves: Arrangement.--Alternate, single leaves, 16 leaves per lateral branch. Apex.--Rounded. Base--Cuneate. Color (immature leaves).--Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. Color (mature leaves).--Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. Margin.--Entire. Size.--Length: 4.7 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Shape.--Narrowly elliptic. Texture.--Pubescent on both upper and lower surfaces. Venation.--Type: Reticulate. Color (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS 144C. Petiole.--Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm. Color: RHS 144C. Texture: Pubescent. Flower buds: Color.--RHS 59B. Shape.--Cylindrical. Size.--Length: 2.3 cm. Diameter: 0.62 cm. Inflorescence: Blooming habit.--Continuous from spring to late fall. Inflorescence type.--Solitary flower, self-cleaning. Arrangement.--Borne in upper leaf axils. Aspect.--Upright to outward. Shape.--Salverform. Fragrance.--None. Flower number (per flowering stem).--1 to 2. Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.--220. Flower longevity on the plant.--7 to 10 days. Peduncle.--Color: RHS 144B. Length: 2.1 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Flowers: Size.--Height (flower depth): 2.6 cm. Diameter: 3.5 cm. Corolla tube.--Shape: Tube-shaped. Diameter (proximal end): 0.37 cm. Diameter (distal end): 0.69 cm. Color outside: Near RHS 11B with RHS 165B venation. Color inside: RHS 14B with RHS 199A venation. Petals.--Arrangement: Composed of 5 fused petals arranged in a single whorl. Shape: Spatulate. Size: Length: 1.4 cm. Width: 1.7 cm. Apex: Rounded. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Color (when opening): Upper surface: RHS 18B with RHS 67A splashed-patterns and venation. Lower surface: RHS 67B with RHS 165B venation. Color (fully opened): Upper surface: RHS 18B with RHS 67A splashed-patterns and venation. Lower surface: RHS 67B with RHS 165B venation. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth, satiny. Calyx.--Form: Tubular, star-shaped. Length: 1.7 cm. Diameter: 1.4 cm. Sepals.--Arrangement: Single whorl. Number: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Size: Length: 1.2 cm. Width: 0.21 cm. Color (immature): RHS 137C (both upper and lower surfaces). Color (mature): RHS 137C (both upper and lower surfaces). Reproductive organs: Stamens.--Quantity: 5. Filament: Length: 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm. Color: RHS 150D. Anther: Shape: Ellipsoid. Size: 0.10 cm. Color: RHS 10B. Pollen.--Amount: Moderate. Color: RHS 13C. Pistil.--Quantity: One. Length: 0.94 cm. Style.--Length: 0.84 cm. Color: RHS 144D. Stigma.--Shape: Transversely ellipsoid. Color: RHS 143B. Ovary color.--RHS 144C. Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed. Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

`Sunbelriterra` differs from the female parent `20` (unpatented), by having yellow flowers with reddish-purple splash patterns, while `20` has dark red flowers. Additionally, `Sunbelriterra` has a larger plant diameter and a larger flower diameter than `20`.

`Sunbelriterra` differs from the male parent `35` (unpatented), by having yellow flowers with reddish-purple splash patterns, while `35` has cream-white flowers. Additionally, `Sunbelriterra` has a larger flower diameter than `35`.

`Sunbelriterra` is similar to the commercial variety `Sunbelchipi` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,355) however, there are differences as listed in Table 1 below:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison of characteristics between `Sunbelriterra` and `Sunbelchipi` Characteristic `Sunbelriterra` `Sunbelchipi` Plant diameter 50.0 cm 40.0 cm Lateral branch 18.0 cm 15.0 cm length Internode 2.4 cm 1.5 cm length Stem color RHS 144A RHS 144B with RHS N186C anthocyanin Leaf color Upper surface: RHS 137A Upper surface: RHS 137B (immature) Lower surface: RHS 147B Lower surface: RHS 137C Leaf color Upper surface: RHS 137A Upper surface: RHS 137B (mature) Lower surface: RHS 147B Lower surface: RHS 137C Petiole length 0.4 cm 0.32 cm Quantity of 220 300 flowers and buds per plant Flower bud RHS 59B RHS 59C color Flower 3.5 cm 3.3 cm diameter Petal color Upper surface: RHS 18B Upper surface: RHS N57A (when opening) with RHS 67A splashed- Lower surface: RHS 66B patterns and venation with RHS N186C venation Lower surface: RHS 67B with RHS 165B venation Petal color Upper surface: RHS 18B Upper surface: RHS N66A (fully opened) with RHS 67A splashed- Lower surface: RHS N66C patterns Lower surface: RHS 67B with RHS 165B venation Corolla tube 0.69 cm 0.77 cm diameter (distal end) Corolla tube RHS 14B with RHS 199A RHS 9A with RHS N186C color (inside) venation venation Corolla tube RHS 11B with RHS 165B RHS 150D with RHS color (outside) venation N186C venation Sepal length 1.2 cm 1.4 cm Sepal width 0.21 cm 0.26 cm Sepal color Upper surface: RHS 137C Upper surface: RHS 137B (immature) Lower surface: RHS 137C Lower surface: RHS 137C Sepal color Upper surface: RHS 137C Upper surface: RHS 137B (mature) Peduncle color RHS 144B RHS 143B Anther color RHS 10B RHS 16C

Claims

I claim:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of calibrachoa plant as shown and described herein.