Calibrachoa plant named `Suncalpi`

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named `Suncalpi`, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; early and long flowering period; single red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: `SUNCALPI`.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Suncalpi`.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching Calibrachoa plants with large, attractive and uniquely colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number P-9, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 313-5, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa 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 `Suncalpi`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Suncalpi` as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant: 1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit. 2. Vigorous growth habit. 3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit. 4. Early and long flowering period. 5. Large single red purple-colored flowers. 6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright than and not as spreading as plants of the female parent selection. 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright than and not as spreading as plants of the male parent selection. 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have light red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of `Sunbelrikupi`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,729. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoa and `Sunbelrikupi` differed primarily in the following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were taller and more upright than and not as trailing as plants of `Sunbelrikupi`. 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had longer leaves than plants of `Sunbelrikupi`. 3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely flowering than plants of `Sunbelrikupi`. 4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants of `Sunbelrikupi`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant; these photographs show 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 Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of `Suncalpi` grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of `Suncalpi`.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the early summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23.degree. C. and night temperatures averaged 13.degree. C. Plants had been growing for four months when the photographs and the 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: Calibrachoa sp. `Suncalpi`. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.--Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number P-9, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.--Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 313-5, not patented. Propagation: Type.--By vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots.--About one week at 15.degree. C. to 20.degree. C. Time to produce a rooted young plant.--About three weeks at 15.degree. C. to 20.degree. C. Root description.--Fibrous; white in color. Rooting habit.--Freely branching. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.--Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development; vigorous growth habit. Plant height.--About 16.8 cm. Plant diameter.--About 39.2 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.--About 13 cm. Diameter.--About 1.6 mm. Internode length.--About 1 cm. Strength.--Strong. Aspect.--Upright to outwardly. Texture.--Pubescent. Color.--Close to 144A. Foliage description: Arrangement.--Alternate, simple. Length.--About 3.9 cm. Width.--About 1.2 cm. Shape.--Narrowly elliptic. Apex.--Broadly acute. Base.--Cuneate. Margin.--Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.--Pubescent. Venation pattern.--Pinnate; reticulate. Color.--Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 145A. Petiole.--Length: About 4.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. Flower description: Flower arrangement and habit.--Single salverform flowers arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually about 94 flowers per plant; flowers face upright or outwardly. Fragrance.--None detected. Natural flowering season.--Early flowering habit, plants of the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about three weeks after planting; long flowering period, flowering commences naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan. Flower longevity.--Individual flowers last about seven to ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent. Flower diameter.--About 4.2 cm. Flower length (depth).--About 3 cm. Throat diameter.--About 8.9 mm. Tube length.--About 2 cm. Tube diameter, base.--About 2.1 mm. Flower bud.--Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm. Color: Close to 186A. Corolla.--Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.6 cm. Petal width: About 1.9 cm. Petal shape: Spatulate. Petal apex: Blunt to cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74A; towards the throat, close to 61A; venation, close to 61A. Petal, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 70B. Throat: Close to 9A. Tube: Close to 1C. Calyx.--Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 7 mm to 15 mm. Sepal width: About 4 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Sepal color: Immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 137B. Immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 137C. Peduncles.--Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to 144A. Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower. Stamen length: About 7 mm to 13 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 1.2 mm. Anther diameter: About 0.7 mm. Anther color: Close to 10B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 10C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 9.6 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Seed/fruit.--Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 5.degree. C. to about 35.degree. C. Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Calibrachoa plants.

Claims

It is claimed:

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named `Suncalpi` as illustrated and described.