U.S. patent number PP19,189 [Application Number 11/800,784] was granted by the patent office on 2008-09-09 for phlox plant named `sunphlorai`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Suntory Flowers Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kiyoshi Miyazaki.
United States Patent |
PP19,189 |
Miyazaki |
September 9, 2008 |
Phlox plant named `Sunphlorai`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named `Sunphlorai`,
characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; moderately
vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; lavender
pink-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; and
good garden performance.
Inventors: |
Miyazaki; Kiyoshi (Tokyo,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Suntory Flowers Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
39734469 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/800,784 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/320 |
Primary Examiner: Bell; Kent L.
Assistant Examiner: McCormick-Ewoldt; S. B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Whealy; C. A.
Claims
It is claimed:
1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named `Sunphlorai` as illustrated
and described.
Description
Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.
Cultivar denomination: `Sunphlorai`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Phlox, botanically known as Phlox drummondii and hereinafter
referred to by the name `Sunphlorai`.
The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted
by the Inventor in Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding
program was to create new compact Phlox cultivars with attractive
flower coloration.
The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the
Inventor in June, 2002, in Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selection
of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 2Ph-45a, not
patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary
selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 2Ph-45b,
not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox was
discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant
within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled
environment in Shiga, Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by vegetative cuttings in a
controlled environment in Shiga, Japan since October, 2005, has
shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and
reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar Sunphlorai has not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with
variations in environment and cultural practices such as
temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in
genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are
determined to be the unique characteristics of `Sunphlorai`. These
characteristics in combination distinguish `Sunphlorai` as a new
and distinct cultivar of Phlox: 1 Compact and mounding plant habit.
2. Moderately vigorous growth habit. 3. Freely branching habit. 4.
Lavender pink-colored flowers. 5. Freely and continuous flowering
habit. 6. Good garden performance.
Compared to plants of the parent selections, plants of the new
Phlox are more compact and differ in flower coloration.
Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of the
cultivar Sunphlochebu, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,723. In
side-by-side comparisons conducted in Shiga, Japan, plants of the
new Phlox and the cultivar Sunphlochebu differed in the following
characteristics: 1. Plants of the new Phlox were smaller than
plants of the cultivar Sunphlochebu. 2. Plants of the new Phlox had
shorter lateral branches and internodes than plants of the cultivar
Sunphlochebu. 3. Plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar
Sunphlochebu differed in flower color.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall
appearance of the new Phlox, showing the colors as true as it is
reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this
type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color
values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately
describe the colors of the new Phlox.
The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a top perspective
view of a typical flowering plant of `Sunphlorai` grown in a
container.
The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of
typical flowers of `Sunphlorai`.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The aforementioned photographs and following observations,
measurements and values describe plants grown in Shiga, Japan,
under commercial practice during the summer in an outdoor nursery
with day temperatures ranged from 15.degree. C. to 33.degree. C.
and night temperatures ranging from 13.degree. C. to 25.degree. C.
After planting, plants were pinched one time. Plants had been
growing for about five months when the photographs and description
were taken. In the following description, color references are made
to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,
except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are
used. Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii cultivar
Sunphlorai. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.--Proprietary
selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 2Ph-45a,
not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.--Proprietary selection of
Phlox drummondii identified as code number 2Ph-45B, not patented.
Propagation: Type.--By vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate
roots.--About two to three weeks at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C.
Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.--About one to two
months at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C. Root description.--Fine,
fibrous and fleshy; ivory white to pale brown in color. Rooting
habit.--Freely branching. Plant description: Plant
form/habit.--Compact and mounded plant habit; outwardly spreading;
vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit; pinching enhances
branching potential. Plant height.--About 15 cm. Plant width
(spread).--About 20.8 cm. Lateral branches.--Length: About 6 cm.
Diameter: About 1.3 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm. Strength:
Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144C. Foliage description:
Arrangement.--Alternate, simple; sessile. Length.--About 2 cm.
Width.--About 6.2 mm. Shape.--Lanceolate. Apex.--Acute.
Base.--Obtuse. Margin.--Entire. Texture, upper and lower
surfaces.--Pubescent. Venation pattern.--Pinnate; reticulate.
Color.--Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 137A;
venation, 144C. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower
surface: 138B; venation, 144C. Flower description: Flower
type/habit.--Single rotate hypocraterimorphous flowers arranged in
terminal and axillary cymes; flowers face obliquely upward to
outward. Freely flowering habit with about two to four flowers per
cyme. Fragrance.--None detected. Natural flowering
season.--Continuously flowering from spring to late autumn in
Shiga, Japan. Flowers not persistent. Postproduction
longevity.--Flowers last about five days on the plant. Flower
buds.--Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 mm. Shape:
Clavate. Color: N155C. Inflorescence height.--About 2.5 cm.
Inflorescence diameter.--About 5.4 cm. Flower diameter.--About 2.9
cm. Flower depth.--About 1.8 cm. Throat diameter.--About 1.2 mm.
Tube length.--About 1.6 cm. Petals.--Quantity per flower: Typically
five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow
tube. Length: About 1.3 cm. Lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Shape:
Broadly rhombic. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper
and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and fully
expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 75B; towards the base,
78B; throat, close to 75B. Developing and fully expanded petals,
lower surface: Close to 76C; tube, N155C. Sepals.--Quantity per
flower: Typically five in a single whorl, fused at base; tubular in
shape. Length: About 2.4 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.
Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:
Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144B.
Peduncles.--Length: About 7.4 mm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm. Texture:
Pubescent. Color: 144C. Pedicels.--Length: About 3.2 mm. Diameter:
About 0.6 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144C. Reproductive
organs.--Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Stamen
length: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther size:
About 2 mm by 0.8 mm. Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount: Moderate.
Pollen color: 15A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil
length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma
color: 2B. Style color: 2C. Ovary color: 144B. Seed/fruit.--Seed
and fruit development have not been observed. Disease/pest
resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted to be
resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox. Garden
performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to have
good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and temperatures
from about 0.degree. C. to about 35.degree. C.
* * * * *