U.S. patent number PP29,320 [Application Number 14/999,704] was granted by the patent office on 2018-05-29 for loropetalum plant named `gekkou`.
The grantee listed for this patent is Yuji Suzuki. Invention is credited to Yuji Suzuki.
United States Patent |
PP29,320 |
Suzuki |
May 29, 2018 |
Loropetalum plant named `Gekkou`
Abstract
A new and distinct Loropetalum cultivar named `Gekkou` is
disclosed, characterized by bright deep pink flowers and strong
heat tolerance and resistance to color change in extreme
temperatures. Plant habit is very dense and full growing with very
vibrant burgundy foliage. The new variety is a Loropetalum,
normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.
Inventors: |
Suzuki; Yuji (Kawaguchi,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Suzuki; Yuji |
Kawaguchi |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Family
ID: |
60660887 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/999,704 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170367233 P1 |
Dec 21, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/226 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/12 (20130101); A01H 5/02 (20130101); A01H
6/00 (20180501); Y02A 40/138 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 5/12 (20180101) |
Primary Examiner: Grunberg; Anne Marie
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bright; Cassandra
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plant named `Gekkou`
as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.
Variety denomination: `Gekkou`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding
program conducted by the inventor in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,
Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new
Loropetalum varieties with better foliage color and improved
flowering for ornamental commercial applications. The cross
resulting in this new variety was made during Jun. 30, 2013.
The seed parent is the commercial variety referred to as
Loropetalum `Beniotome`, unpatented. The pollen parent is the
unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Loropetalum `5-47`.
The new variety was selected by the inventor in a group of
seedlings resulting from the 2005 crossing, in a nursery in
Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood
terminal cuttings. This was first performed at a nursery in
Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan, in June 2013 and has shown that the
unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to
type in 5 successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar `Gekkou` has not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with
variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 `Gekkou` These
characteristics in combination distinguish `Gekkou` as a new and
distinct Loropetalum cultivar: 1. Bright deep pink flowers. 2.
Strong heat tolerance and resistant to color change in extreme
temperatures. 3. Very dense and full growing plant. 4. Vibrant
burgundy foliage.
Plants of the new cultivar `Gekkou` are similar to plants of the
seed parent, Loropetalum `Beniotome` in most horticultural
characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar `Gekkou`
differ in the following; 1. The new variety has dark bright deep
pink flowers, parent variety has red to magenta colored flowers. 2.
The new variety has significantly more flowers than the parent
variety.
Plants of the new cultivar `Gekkou` are similar to plants of the
pollen parent, Loropetalum `5-47` in most horticultural
characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar `Gekkou`
differ in the following; 1. The new variety has large flowers,
whereas the parent has medium sized flowers. 2. Bright magenta deep
pink flowers, the parent has lighter pink flowers.
COMMERCIAL COMPARISON
Plants of the new cultivar `Gekkou` are comparable to the patented,
commercial variety Loropetalum `Kurenai Daiou`, U.S. Plant Pat. No.
27,748. The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most
horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety `Gekkou`
differs in the following: 1. The new variety has smaller foliage.
2. The new variety has smaller flowers than this comparator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color an
overhead view of a typical plant of `Gekkou` grown in a 1 gallon
pot.
FIG. 2 illustrates a side of of the same plant.
FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of the flowers and foliage. Age
of the plant photographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a
rooted cutting.
The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although
colors may appear different from actual colors due to light
reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional
photographic techniques.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
In the following description, color references are made to The
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general
terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following
observations and measurements describe `Gekkou` plants grown in a
double poly greenhouse, in Grand Haven, Mich. The growing
temperature averaged from 60-65.degree. F. during the day and from
40-50.degree. F. during the night. The double poly was present from
Fall through Winter, then removed in the Spring. Shade cloth was
used through the Summer. Measurements and numerical values
represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical
classification: Loropetalum chinense `Gekkou`.
PROPAGATION
Type of propagation typically used: Cutting. Time to initiate
roots: 18 days at 27.degree. C. Number of days to produce a rooted
liner in summer: 110 days at 27.degree. C. Root description: Thin
to thick, fibrous, free branching and fleshy. New roots are purple
in color, aging to brown.
PLANT
Type of plant: Perennial shrub. Age of plant described: 1 to 2
years old. Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon pot.
Growth habit: Spreading to upright. Height: 17 cm. Plant spread: 29
cm. Growth rate: Moderate. Plant vigor: Good. Branching
characteristics: Lateral branching. Characteristics of primary
lateral branches: Length.--Average 18 cm. Quantity.--11.
Diameter.--3.0 mm. Color.--Young stems: Near RHS Brown 200B. Older
stems: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 165A. Aspect.--Straight, occurring at
various angles from acute to obtuse. Strength.--Good. Internode
length: 2.1 cm. Stem pubescence: Yes.
FOLIAGE
Leaf: Arrangement.--Alternate, single. Quantity.--Approximately 43
per branch. Average length.--2.2-5.8 cm. Average width.--1.6-3.4
cm. Shape of blade.--Ovate rounded. Apex.--Acute. Base.--Oblique.
Margin.--Entire. Texture of top surface.--Rough due to presence of
pubescence. Texture of bottom surface.--Ribbed due to protruding
veins. Moderate pubescence. Appearance.--Upper surface: heavy
pubescence on young leaves, moderate to slight on older leaves.
Lower surface: moderate to strong pubescence at all ages.
Color.--Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A.
Young foliage under side: Glaucous. Near RHS Red-purple 59A. Mature
foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A with undertones of
RHS Black 200A. Mature foliage under side: Glaucous. Near RHS
Red-Purple 59B with undertones of RHS Greyed-Green 191D.
Venation.--Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Midribs and
veins are depressed on the upper side. Color does not differ from
the leaf color. Venation color under side: Midribs and veins are
prominent on the underside. Near RHS Greyed-Purple Group 186A.
Petiole.--Length: 0.2 to 0.3 cm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Near RHS
Greyed-Orange 166A.
FLOWER
Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Mainly terminal with umbel
inflorescence. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 5 to 7.
Flower type: Strap-shaped. Flower aspect: Upright. Quantity of
flowers per lateral stem: 15-30. Quantity of flowers per plant:
50-200 on a plant of 1 to 2 years. Natural flowering season: Spring
to Fall. Fragrance: None. Bud: Shape.--Obovate. Length.--4 mm.
Diameter.--2.5 mm. Color.--Near RHS Red-Purple 59B. Petals:
Quantity per flower.--4. Shape.--Linear. Margin.--Entire.
Texture.--Smooth, silky. Appearance.--Ribbon-like. Length.--17 mm.
Width.--1 mm. Tip.--Truncate. Color.--When opening: Upper surface:
Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B.
Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Lower
surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Fades to: Near RHS Red-Purple
60B. Sepals: Quantity per flower.--4-6. Appearance.--Slightly
pubescent. Texture.--Slightly pubescent. Arrangement.--Whorl.
Shape.--Ovate and fused, slightly curled outward. Length.--4 mm.
Width.--2 mm. Tip.--Slightly reflexed. Base.--Fused.
Margin.--Entire, smooth. Color.--Immature upper and lower side:
Near RHS Red-Purple 58A. Mature upper and lower side: Near RHS
Red-Purple 58A.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Stamens: Number.--4. Filament length.--Average 1 mm. Filament
color.--Near RHS White 155C. Anthers.--Shape: Linear. Length: Less
than 1 mm. Color: Near RHS White 155C. Pollen.--Amount: Scant.
Color: Near RHS White 155B. Pistil: Number.--2.
Length.--Approximately 1 mm. Style.--Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:
Near RHS White 155C. Stigma.--Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS White
155C. Ovary: Less than 1 mm, colored near Yellow-Green 150D.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Lowest temperature tolerance: 5 to 10.degree. F. Disease/pest
resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or pests noted to
date.
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