U.S. patent number PP30,148 [Application Number 15/732,613] was granted by the patent office on 2019-01-29 for hydrangea plant named `little ema`.
The grantee listed for this patent is Kenji Watanabe. Invention is credited to Kenji Watanabe.
![](/patent/grant/PP030148/USPP030148-20190129-D00001.png)
United States Patent |
PP30,148 |
Watanabe |
January 29, 2019 |
Hydrangea plant named `Little Ema`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named `Little
Ema`, characterized by its white-colored inflorescences, medium
green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact,
upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Watanabe; Kenji (Kanuma,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Watanabe; Kenji |
Kanuma |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Family
ID: |
65032786 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/732,613 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/250 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/14 (20180501); A01H 5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/250 |
Primary Examiner: Robinson; Keith O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Charles; Audrey
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named `Little
Ema`, substantially as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Hydrangea
paniculata.
Variety denomination: `Little Ema`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Hydrangea plant botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata and
hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Little Ema`.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in
Kanuma-shi, Japan during July 2007. The objective of the breeding
program was the development of Hydrangea cultivars that are
floriferous with a compact growth habit.
The new Hydrangea cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of
the proprietary Hydrangea paniculata breeding selection coded HNW,
not patented, characterized by its white-colored inflorescences,
light green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact,
upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and
selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the
above stated self-pollination during July 2010 in a controlled
environment in Kanuma-shi, Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings since
July 2010 in Kanuma-shi, Japan and Hillegom, The Netherlands has
demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all
of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and
retained through successive generations of such asexual
propagation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been
repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish `Little Ema` as
a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant: 1. White-colored
inflorescences; 2. Medium green-colored foliage; and 3. Moderately
vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit.
Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent
primarily in having more growth vigor and darker green-colored
foliage.
Of the many commercially available Hydrangea cultivars, the most
similar in comparison to the new cultivar is `Daruma`, not
patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ
from plants of `Daruma` in at least the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new cultivar have a more compact growth habit than
plants of `Daruma`; and 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker
foliage color than plants of `Daruma`.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is
reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this
type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new
cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the
color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately
describes the colors of `Little Ema`. The plants were three-years
old and were grown in the field for the final two years in
Hillegom, The Netherlands. Plants were given one pinch six months
after sticking. Plants were transferred to a 27 cm pot for
photographic purposes.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering
habit of `Little Ema`.
FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence
of `Little Ema`.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that
the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment,
such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without,
however, any variance in genotype.
The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is
The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,
England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary
significance are used. The color values were determined in July
2017 under natural light conditions in Boskoop, The
Netherlands.
The following descriptions and measurements describe 3-year old
plants produced in Hillegom, The Netherlands from softwood cuttings
from stock plants. Plants were grown for one year in a poly-covered
greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial
practice. Plants were given one pinch six months after sticking.
The plants were grown in the field for the final two years in
Hillegom, The Netherlands. Measurements and numerical values
represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification:
Hydrangea paniculata `Little Ema`. Parentage: Female and male
parent.--Proprietary Hydrangea paniculata breeding selection coded
HNW, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.--Softwood. Time to
initiate roots.--Approximately 25 to 30 days. Time to produce a
rooted cutting.--Approximately 35 to 50 days. Root
description.--Medium thickness, white in color. Rooting
habit.--Freely branching, dense. Plant description: Commercial crop
time.--Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish
in a 18 cm pot. Growth habit and general appearance.--Deciduous
shrub, moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded.
Hardiness.--USDA Zone 5a (-20.degree. F. to -15.degree. F.). Heat
tolerance.--Regularly tolerates temperatures as high as 38.degree.
C. in the summer. Size.--Height from soil level to top of plant
plane: Approximately 48.5 cm. Width: Approximately 63.1 cm.
Branching habit.--Moderately freely branching. Pinching enhances
branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant: Approximately
17. Branch.--Shape: Rounded. Strength: Very strong. Length to base
of inflorescence: Approximately 22.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately
4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 5.1 cm. Texture
of young stem: Glabrous. Texture of mature stem: Glabrous, becomes
woody with age. Color of young stem: 146D and 147D with an overlay
of 182D. Color of mature stem: 146D and 147D with an overlay of
182D and 185C, when woody N200B. Lenticels.--Quantity per
internode: Approximately 15. Shape: Narrow elliptic. Size:
Approximately 1.0 mm. Color: 184D. Foliage description: General
description.--Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately
10. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.
Leaves.--Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrated. Apex: Acuminate. Base:
Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:
Approximately 11.4 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 6.0 cm.
Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rugose, sparsely
pubescent on venation of lower surface only. Color of upper surface
of young foliage: Closest to 144A with 137C, venation of 146D.
Color of lower surface of young foliage: 146B with venation of
144B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137B,
venation of 148C. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest
to 138B with venation of slightly darker than 147D.
Petiole.--Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0
mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Upper surface 183B and
lower surface 182B to lighter than 182D. Flowering description:
Flowering habit.--Early July through August. Lastingness of
individual inflorescence on the plant.--Approximately 1.5 months.
Inflorescence description: General description.--Type: Single
sterile and fertile flowers arranged on terminal conical panicles,
sterile florets face mostly upward. Sterile florets occasionally
have visible reproductive parts, but lack an ovary. Quantity of
panicles per plant: Approximately 8. Fragrance: Faint, sweet.
Aspect: Facing upward and slightly outward. Height: Approximately
9.1 cm. Width: Approximately 11.2 cm. Quantity of fertile florets
per inflorescence: Approximately 400. Quantity of sterile florets
per inflorescence: Approximately 14. Peduncle.--Strength: Strong.
Shape: Round, somewhat flattened in cross-section. Length:
Approximately 5.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture:
Moderately pubescent. Color: 182D transitioning to 145B at distal
end. Floret description: General description.--Type: Single,
sterile and fertile. Sterile florets, bud just before
opening.--Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter:
Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: 145B. Sterile florets.--Shape: Rotate,
cruciform. Depth: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.4
cm. Corolla: 4 petals. Shape: Rotate, cruciform. Diameter:
Approximately 5.5 mm. Calyx: 4 sepals. Shape: Rotate, cruciform.
Diameter: Approximately 3.4 cm. Petals, sterile florets.--Shape:
Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Length:
Approximately 3.5 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper
and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces:
NN155C. Sepals, sterile florets.--Shape: Obovate to nearly
orbicular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded. Length:
Approximately 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper
and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first
open: Closest to but more yellow green than 155A. Color of lower
surface when first open: 155A. Color of upper surface when fully
open: Closest to NN155A with a faint tint of 157D; fall color 145D
with an overlay of 185D. Color of lower surface when fully open:
Closest to NN155A with a faint tint of 157D; fall color 145D with a
heavy overlay of 185D. Pedicel, sterile florets.--Strength:
Moderately strong. Aspect: Approximately 60.degree. from peduncle
axis. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm.
Texture: Moderately pubescent with appressed hairs. Color: NN155B.
Fertile florets, bud just before opening.--Shape: Obovoid. Length:
Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 157B.
Fertile florets.--Depth: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter:
Approximately 9.0 mm. Corolla: 5 petals. Shape: Rotate. Diameter:
Approximately 8.0 mm. Calyx: 5 sepals. Shape: Cupped, lower 75%
fused. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Petals, fertile
florets.--Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.
Length: Approximately 3.5 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture
of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color: NN155C; fall color
145A with upper half tinted with 185B. Sepals, fertile
florets.--Shape of free portion: Triangular. Margin of free
portion: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately
2.25 mm. Width at base of free portion: Approximately 0.2 mm.
Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and
lower surface: 157B to 157C. Pedicel, fertile florets.--Strength:
Strong. Aspect: Range from erect to approximately 90.degree. from
peduncle axis. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter:
Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent with appressed
hairs. Color: 157D. Reproductive organs.--Observed in fertile
florets and occasionally in the center of sterile florets, sterile
florets lack an ovary. Androecium: Stamen quantity: 10 per floret.
Stamen length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament color: 155C. Anther
shape: Kidney-shaped, basally attached. Anther length:
Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color: 194B to 194C. Pollen amount:
Sparse. Pollen color: 155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per
floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma shape: Round.
Stigma color: NN155A. Style length: Approximately 0.7 mm,
three-lobed. Style color: 160B to 160C. Ovary length: Approximately
0.5 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 157B. Seed and fruit
production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests
common to Hydrangea has not been observed.
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