U.S. patent number PP20,206 [Application Number 12/157,321] was granted by the patent office on 2009-08-04 for torenia plant named `sunrenibebu`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Suntory Flowers Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kazunari Iwaki, Tetsuya Kako, Takeshi Kanaya, Kiyoshi Miyazaki, Kenichi Suzuki.
United States Patent |
PP20,206 |
Kako , et al. |
August 4, 2009 |
Torenia plant named `Sunrenibebu`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant named `Sunrenibebu`
characterized by its compact and mounding to trailing plant habit;
freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering
period; light violet-colored flowers; and good garden
performance.
Inventors: |
Kako; Tetsuya (Shiga,
JP), Miyazaki; Kiyoshi (Shiga, JP), Iwaki;
Kazunari (Kanagawa, JP), Kanaya; Takeshi (Shiga,
JP), Suzuki; Kenichi (Osaka, JP) |
Assignee: |
Suntory Flowers Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
40910311 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/157,321 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/487 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/487 |
Primary Examiner: Para; Annette H
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Whealy; C. A.
Claims
It is claimed:
1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named `Sunrenibebu` as
illustrated and described.
Description
Botanical designation: Torenia sp.
Cultivar denomination: `Sunrenibebu`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Torenia, botanically known as Torenia sp. and hereinafter referred
to by the name `Sunrenibebu`.
The new Torenia is a whole plant mutation of a proprietary
selection of Torenia sp. identified as code number TH4, not
patented. The new Torenia was discovered and selected by the
Inventors as a single plant in a controlled greenhouse environment
in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in March, 2006.
Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia by vegetative cuttings in a
controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since
October, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new
Torenia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive
generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Plants of the new Torenia have 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 `Sunrenibebu`. These
characteristics in combination distinguish `Sunrenibebu` as a new
and distinct cultivar of Torenia: 1. Compact and mounding to
trailing plant habit. 2. Freely branching habit. 3. Freely
flowering habit. 4. Long flowering period. 5. Light violet-colored
flowers. 6. Good garden performance.
Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the
parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection
have darker violet-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new
Torenia are smaller than plants of the parent selection.
Plants of the new Torenia can also be compared to plants of Torenia
sp. `Sunrenicopalave`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,001. In
side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan,
plants of the new Torenia and `Sunrenicopalave` differed in the
following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new Torenia were
narrower than plants of `Sunrenicopalave`. 2. Plants of the new
Torenia had shorter internodes than plants of `Sunrenicopalave`. 3.
Plants of the new Torenia had narrower leaves than plants of
`Sunrenicopalave`. 4. Plants of the new Torenia had smaller flowers
than plants of `Sunrenicopalave`. 5. Plants of the new Torenia and
`Sunrenicopalave` differed in flower color as plants of
`Sunrenicopalave` had darker-colored flowers. 6. Plants of the new
Torenia had shorter peduncles than plants of `Sunrenicopalave`.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall
appearance of the new Torenia, 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 Torenia.
The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective
view of a typical flowering plant of `Sunrenibebu` grown in a
container.
The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a
typical flower, flower buds and leaves of `Sunrenibebu`.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The aforementioned photographs and following observations,
measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga,
Japan, under commercial practice during the autumn in a
polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging
20.degree. C. and night temperatures averaging 10.degree. C. Plants
had been growing for 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: Torenia
sp. `Sunrenibebu`. Parentage: Whole plant mutation of a proprietary
selection of Torenia sp. identified as code number TH4, not
patented. Propagation: Type.--By vegetative cuttings. Time to
initiate roots.--About one week at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C.
Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.--About three to four
weeks at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C. Root description.--Fine,
fibrous and fleshy; brown in color. Rooting habit.--Freely
branching. Plant description: Plant form/habit.--Compact and
mounded to trailing plant habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous
growth habit. Freely branching habit; pinching enhances branching;
about 30 lateral branches develop per plant. Plant height.--About
16.5 cm. Plant width (spread).--About 45.4 cm. Lateral
branches.--Length: About 25.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm. Internode
length: About 2.8 cm. Aspect: Decumbent. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.
Color: Close to N144A. Foliage description: Arrangement.--Opposite,
simple. Length.--About 2.2 cm. Width.--About 1.6 cm. Shape.--Ovate.
Apex.--Acute. Base.--Cordate. Margin.--Serrate. Texture, upper
surface.--Pubescent. Texture, lower surface.--Smooth, glabrous.
Venation pattern.--Pinnate; reticulate. Color.--Developing and
fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A; venation,
close to 145B. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface:
Close to 144B; venation, close to 145B. Petiole.--Length: About 5
mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:
Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B.
Flower description: Flower type/habit.--Single flowers borne in
upper leaf axils; corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face
obliquely upright. Freely flowering habit with about 64 open
flowers per plant. Fragrance.--None detected. Natural flowering
season.--Long flowering period; continuously flowering from early
summer to late autumn in Japan. Flowers not persistent.
Postproduction longevity.--Flowers last about four days on the
plant. Flower buds.--Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.
Shape: Lenticular. Color: Close to N82B. Flower diameter.--About 3
cm by 2.5 cm. Flower depth.--About 3.4 cm. Throat diameter.--About
9.3 mm. Tube diameter, base.--About 3.2 mm. Tube length.--About 2.3
cm. Petals.--Quantity per flower: One upper or banner petal, two
lateral petals and one lower petal in a single whorl, fused. Upper
petal: Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Elliptic.
Apex: Mucronate to truncate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulating.
Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.
Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to 82C; towards the
throat, close to 91D. Developing petals, lower surface: Close to
82C. Fully developed petals, upper surface: Close to 85C; towards
the throat, close to 91D. Fully developed petals, lower surface:
Close to 85C. Lateral petals: Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 1.4
cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper
and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Developing
petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 82C. Fully developed
petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 85C. Lower petal:
Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:
Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,
glabrous; velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close
to 82C; towards the throat, close to 91D. Developing petals, lower
surface: Close to 82C. Fully developed petals, upper surface: Close
to 85C; towards the throat, close to 91D. Fully developed petals,
lower surface: Close to 85C. Throat color: Close to N82C; lines,
close to N79B. Tube color: Close to N82A to N82B. Sepals.--Quantity
per flower: Typically five fused into two lobes; margins winged.
Calyx length: About 1.6 cm. Calyx diameter: About 7.8 mm. Texture,
upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower
surfaces: Close to 145D; wings, close to 144B. Peduncles.--Length:
About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.
Color: Close to 144B. Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Quantity per
flower: Typically four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament
length: About 3.1 mm to 12.4 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther
size: About 3.3 mm by 0.7 mm. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen
amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils: Quantity per
flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Stigma shape: Elliptic.
Stigma color: Close to 76D. Style color: Close to 77D. Ovary color:
Close to 144A. Seed/fruit.--Seed and fruit development have not
been observed on plants of the new Torenia. Disease/pest
resistance: Plants of the new Torenia have not been noted to be
resistant to pathogens and pests common to Torenia. Garden
performance: Plants of the new Torenia have been observed to have
good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures
from about 5.degree. C. to about 30.degree. C.
* * * * *