U.S. patent number PP26,828 [Application Number 14/121,410] was granted by the patent office on 2016-06-14 for baptisia plant named `blonde bombshell`.
The grantee listed for this patent is Tony Avent. Invention is credited to Tony Avent.
United States Patent |
PP26,828 |
Avent |
June 14, 2016 |
Baptisia plant named `Blonde Bombshell`
Abstract
A new cultivar of interspecific Baptisia, `Blonde Bombshell`,
that is characterized by its flowers that are light yellow in
color, its compact and upright and slightly mounded plant habit,
its flower stems that are held well above the foliage with short
internode lengths between flowers, and its heavy blooming habit
with numerous flowering stems and numerous flowers per flowering
stem.
Inventors: |
Avent; Tony (Raleigh, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Avent; Tony |
Raleigh |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
56100758 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/121,410 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/263.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/263.1 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Aguirre; Penny J.
Claims
It is claimed:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Baptisia plant named `Blonde
Bombshell` as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Botanical classification: Baptisia hybrid.
Cultivar designation: `Blonde Bombshell`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
hybrid Baptisia plant, botanically known as Baptisia `Blonde
Bombshell` and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name,
`Blonde Bombshell`. The new cultivar represents a new false indigo,
an herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.
The new invention arose from an ongoing breeding program by the
Inventor in Raleigh, N.C. The objective of the breeding program is
to develop novel interspecific hybrids of Baptisia that exhibit
good garden performance with tall and upright plant habits and
inflorescences that are held well above the foliage.
`Blonde Bombshell` originated as a seedling that arose from seed
planted from open pollination of an unnamed plant of Baptisia
shaerocarpa in April of 2008 in a controlled block of potential pod
and seed parents. The male parent is therefore unknown. The new
Baptisia was selected as a single unique plant in 2008.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by
shoot tip cuttings in May of 2009 in Raleigh, N.C. under the
direction of the Inventor. Asexual propagation by shoot tip
cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new
cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive
generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent
the characteristics of the new cultivar as observed in Raleigh,
N.C. These attributes in combination distinguish `Blonde Bombshell`
as a unique cultivar of Baptisia. 1. `Blonde Bombshell` exhibits
flowers that are light yellow in color. 2. `Blonde Bombshell`
exhibits a compact and upright and slightly mounded plant habit. 3.
`Blonde Bombshell` exhibits flower stems that are held well above
the foliage with short internode lengths between flowers. 4.
`Blonde Bombshell` exhibits a heavy blooming habit with numerous
flowering stems and numerous flowers per flowering stem.
The female parent of `Blonde Bombshell` differs from `Blonde
Bombshell` in having flowers that are darker yellow in color, fewer
flowering stems that are shorter in height with less flowers and
greater internode lengths between flowers, and in having a less
upright plant habit. `Blonde Bombshell` can be most closely
compared to Baptisia cultivars `Lemon Meringue` (U.S. Plant Pat.
No. 24,280) and `Anne` (not patented). `Lemon Meringue` is similar
to `Blonde Bombshell` in having yellow flowers and upright
flowering stems. `Lemon Meringue` differs from `Blonde Bombshell`
in having flowering stems that are darker in color with longer
internodes between flowers, in having a much wider plant habit, and
in blooming 1 to 2 weeks later. `Anne` is similar to `Blonde
Bombshell` in flower color and season of bloom. `Anne` differs from
`Blonde Bombshell` in having flowering stems that are darker in
color with longer internodes between flowers, in having a much
wider plant habit, and in blooming slightly later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall
appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Baptisia. The
photographs were taken of plants four years in age as grown
outdoors in a trial garden in Raleigh, N.C.
The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of `Blonde Bombshell`
in bloom and illustrates its plant habit and prolific blooming
habit.
The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the
inflorescences.
The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the
photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values
cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the
colors of the new Baptisia.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT
The following is a detailed description of seven year-old plants of
the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a trial garden in Raleigh,
N.C. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in
environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not
been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color
determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of
The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where
general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
General description: Blooming period.--Mid April to early May in
Raleigh, N.C. Plant habit.--Compact, upright and slightly mounded
with inflorescences held well above foliage. Height and spread.--An
average of 1 m in height and spread. Hardiness.--At least in
U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9. Diseases.--No susceptibility to disease has
been observed. Root description.--Deep rooted, fleshy.
Propagation.--Shoot tip cuttings. Growth rate.--Vigorous. Stem
description: Branch habit.--Densely branched; average of 19 main
branches, each with an average of 3 secondary branches, and 2
tertiary branches. Stem size.--Main stem; average of 1.1 m
(including peduncle) in length and 8 mm in width, secondary;
average of 45 cm in length and 4 mm in width, tertiary; an average
of 20 cm in length and 2 mm in width. Stem shape.--Rounded. Stem
color.--144A to 144B, a blend of 200A and N199B when seedpods
mature. Stem surface.--Glabrous, satiny, and slightly glaucous and
lenticellate. Foliage description: Leaf shape.--Fan-shaped in
overall outline. Leaf division.--Ternate. Leaf internode.--Foliage
begins 45 cm from base until foliage expands, an average of 10 cm
on main stem and an average of 5 cm on secondary branches. Leaf
size.--Average 5.1 cm in length and 9 cm in width when mature. Leaf
quantity.--About 18 per stem. Leaflet shape.--Oblanceolate to
elliptic. Leaflet base.--Cuneate. Leaflet apex.--Acute to rounded.
Leaflet venation.--Pinnate pattern, not conspicuous, color matches
leaflet color on the upper and lower surface with the mid rib of
lower surface 144B. Leaflet margins.--Entire. Leaf
attachment.--Petiolate. Leaf arrangement.--Alternate. Leaflet
surface.--Glabrous and slightly glaucous on upper and lower
surface. Leaflet color.--Newly expanded; upper and lower surface
144A, mature; upper and lower surface a blend of 144A and 138A.
Leaflet size.--An average of 4.7 cm in length and 2.2 cm in width.
Petioles.--Average of 2.5 mm in length and 1 mm in width, clasping
to stem at mature nodes, 144B in color, surface is glabrous and
satiny. Stipules.--Lanceolate in shape, base is truncate to stem,
apex is narrowly acute to acuminate, up to 5 mm in length and 1 mm
in width on mature leaves, 138A in color on upper and lower
surface. Flower description: Inflorescence type.--Terminal racemes
of pea-like flowers on main and secondary branches, blooms from the
base to the apex. Inflorescence size.--Average of 35 cm in length
and 5 cm in width at apex. Lastingness of inflorescence.--About 20
days. Flower size.--About 2.2 cm in depth and about 1.2 cm in
diameter. Flower fragrance.--Faint. Flower number per
inflorescence.--About 60. Peduncle.--Rounded in shape, up to 40 cm
in length and an average of 4.5 mm in width, 144B in color, surface
is glabrous, satiny, and slightly glaucous, flower internode length
averages 1 cm. Petiole.--About 4 mm in length, about 1 mm in width,
oval in shape, 144B in color, glabrous and satiny surface. Flower
buds.--Kidney-shaped, about 1.8 cm in length and 7 mm in width,
petal portion is 4B in color, calyx portion same as open flowers.
Flower type--Papilionaceous, held at about a 45.degree. angle.
Calyx.--Campanulate, about 7 mm in length and 5 mm in diameter,
surface is glabrous and satiny, N144A in color, persistent.
Sepals.--5, fused with the exception of apex of each, free portion
is triangular in shape, 2.5 mm in width and depth with an acute
apex, color N144A, surface is glabrous on both surfaces. Corolla
features.--Papilionaceous (4 segments) with a moderately reflexed
banner, 2 lateral wings and a concealed keel, lateral wings; oblong
(slightly oblique) in shape, about 1.7 cm in length and 8 mm in
width, color on outer surface and the inner surface on the lower
portion is 4B, rounded apex, oblique base, keel; not visible,
comprised of 2 segments surrounding reproductive organs, oblong
(slightly oblique) in shape with rounded apex and oblique base, 1.3
cm in length and 7 mm in width, upper surface and lower surface are
4B in color, segments joined at center point, banner; orbicular in
shape, about 1.8 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width, color on outer
surface and the inner surface is 4B, apex is rounded with a single
notch, surface is glabrous on all sections.
Receptacle.--Disk-shaped, gelatinous, 137B in color, about 2 mm in
diameter and 1.5 mm in depth. Reproductive organs: Gynoecium.--1
Pistil, about 1 cm in length, 1 mm in width; style is 145D in color
and 1 cm in length; stigma minute, too small to read color, ovary
is superior with a stipe, 144A in color, 4.5 mm in length and 2 mm
in width; stipe is 145D in color, 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width.
Androcoecium.--10 stamens, not united, 2 cm in length and 1 mm in
width; filament is 1 cm in length, 1 mm in width and 145B in color;
anther is dorsifixed, 1 mm in length and 1 mm in width and 161B in
color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 14B in color. Fruit.--An
inflated pod, technically a legume, average of 18 produced per
inflorescence, Globose and very slightly oblong in shape, average
of 1.5 cm in length by 1.3 cm in width with a beak an average of 2
mm in length, color of outer surface when mature is 200A and
blushed with N200B, color of inner surface when mature is a blend
of N199A and N200A, walls 1.5 mm and hard at maturity, seed;
average of 6 per fruit, N199C to N199D in color, oval with the
hilum side more or less straight, 4 mm in length, 3 mm in width and
2 mm in thickness.
* * * * *