U.S. patent number PP30,607 [Application Number 15/932,124] was granted by the patent office on 2019-06-25 for verbena plant named `balfirelav`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ball Horticultural Company. The grantee listed for this patent is Ball Horticultural Company. Invention is credited to Phuong N. Nguyen.
![](/patent/grant/PP030607/USPP030607-20190625-D00001.png)
United States Patent |
PP30,607 |
Nguyen |
June 25, 2019 |
Verbena plant named `Balfirelav`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named `Balfirelav`,
characterized by its medium lavender and white-colored flowers
medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,
mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Nguyen; Phuong N. (Thousand
Oaks, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ball Horticultural Company |
West Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ball Horticultural Company
(West Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
66996366 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/932,124 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/308 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/86 (20180501); A01H 5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/86 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/308 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hwu; June
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Charles; Audrey
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named `Balfirelav`,
substantially as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena
hybrid.
Variety denomination: `Balfirelav`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Verbena plant botanically known as Verbena hybrid and hereinafter
referred to by the cultivar name `Balfirelav`.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in
Arroyo Grande, Calif. during May 2014. The objective of the
breeding program was the development of Verbena cultivars that are
suited for use in hanging baskets, durable to environmental
stresses, and have a mounded-spreading growth habit.
The new Verbena cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The
female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena
hybrid breeding selection coded 5919 not patented, characterized by
its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and
vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent
of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding
selection coded 9987-3 not patented, characterized by its medium
purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous,
mounded-spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and
selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the
above stated cross-pollination during April 2015 in a controlled
environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings
since April 2015 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill.
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 `Balfirelav` as
a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant: 1. Medium lavender
and white-colored flowers; 2. Medium green-colored foliage; and 3.
Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.
Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and
male parents primarily in having a different flower color.
Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars, the most
similar in comparison to the new cultivar is AZTEC Lavender
`Balazlavi`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,787. However, in side by side
comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of
`Balazlavi` in at least the following characteristics: 1. Plants of
the new cultivar have a flower color that is different from plants
of `Balazlavi`; 2. Plants of the new cultivar have white coloration
only at the base of the two lateral petals and the lower petal and
as such do not have a true flower "eye" unlike plants of
`Balazlavi` that have white coloration at the base of all five
petals; and 3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter
inflorescences than plants of `Balazlavi`.
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 differ slightly from the color
values cited in the detailed description, which accurately
describes the colors of `Balfirelav`. The plants were grown in
4-inch pots for 12 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.
Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering
habit of `Balfirelav`.
FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence
of `Balfirelav`.
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 January
2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.
The following descriptions and measurements describe plants
produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a
glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used
in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill.
in 4-inch pots for 12 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium.
Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant. Greenhouse
temperatures were maintained at approximately 68.degree. F. to
72.degree. F. (20.degree. C. to 22.degree. C.) during the day and
approximately 64.degree. F. to 66.degree. F. (18.degree. C. to
19.degree. C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used.
Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical
plants. Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid `Balfirelav`.
Parentage: Female parent.--Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding
selection coded 5919, not patented. Male parent.--Proprietary
Verbena hybrid breeding selection coded 9987-3, not patented.
Propagation: Type cutting.--Terminal stem. Time to initiate
roots.--Approximately 6 to 9 days. Time to produce a rooted
cutting.--Approximately 24 to 28 days. Root description.--Fibrous.
Rooting habit.--Freely branching. Plant description: Commercial
crop time.--Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting to
finish in a 10 cm pot. Growth habit and general
appearance.--Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading. Size.--Height
from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 12.0 cm.
Width: Approximately 41.0 cm. Branching habit.--Freely branching,
pinching enhances basal branching. Quantity of main branches per
plant: Approximately 3. Branch.--Shape: Square in cross section.
Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 18.5 cm. Diameter:
Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately
3.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and
nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and colorless,
transparent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of mature stems:
146B. Foliage description: General description.--Quantity of leaves
per main branch: Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form:
Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Leaves.--Aspect: Perpendicular to
stem, obtuse angle with age. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Margin:
Crenate. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base: Truncate. Venation
pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm.
Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture of upper
surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely
pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland
color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young and
mature foliage: Closest to 137A with venation of 147C. Color of
lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B with
venation of 147C. Petiole.--Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:
Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of
glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,
transparent. Color: 147C to 147D. Flowering description: Flowering
habit.--`Balfirelav` is freely flowering under outdoor growing
conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring
through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.
Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.--Approximately 5 to
7 days. Inflorescence description: General description.--Type:
Corymb. Shape: Hemispherical, broad ovate when viewed in profile.
Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Fragrance: None detected.
Length or height: 2.8 cm. Width: Approximately 5.8 cm. Quantity of
fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 16.
Peduncle.--Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately
4.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent
with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:
Mixture of N92C and colorless, transparent. Color: 137B. Flower
description: General description.--Type: Sessile, salverform.
Bud.--Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to
progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity of
unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 6. Bud just before
opening.--Shape: Elongated, globular at apex. Length: Approximately
1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: Petal portion N87A,
sepal portion 137B. Corolla.--Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately
2.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 3.2 cm. Petals.--Quantity: 5, fused at
base forming a tube. Shape: Obovate. Arrangement: Free to slightly
touching. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire, weak undulation. Apex:
Emarginate. Length of upper petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm.
Width of upper petals: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lateral
petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of lateral petals:
Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of lower petal from tube:
Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 1.0 cm.
Texture of upper surface: Glabrous with glandular pubescent base.
Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of
glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and
colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when first open:
N87B with medium "eye" area of NN155D at base of lateral and lower
petals, 145C at throat opening. Color of lower surface when first
open: NN155D with a heavy overlay of N87D. Color of upper surface
when fully open: N87C with medium "eye" area of NN155D at base of
lateral and lower petals, 145B at throat opening; with senescence
transitions to 96C to 96D. Color of lower surface when fully open:
NN155D with an overlay of N87D. Color of whiskers surrounding the
opening of the corolla tube: NN155D. Corolla tube.--Length:
Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 1.0
mm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer
surface: Upper half moderately glandular pubescent, lower half
glabrous. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of inner
surface: Densely pubescent. Color of outer surface: 145D with 145C
at distal end. Color of inner surface: 145D with 145B at throat
opening. Calyx.--Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length:
Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.
Sepals.--Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape: Linear.
Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0
mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of
outer surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and
nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and colorless,
transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces: 137B.
Stipules.--Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately
5.0 mm. Width at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner
surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with
a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture
of N92C and colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer
surfaces: 144A at base transitioning to 137A at apex. Reproductive
organs.--Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, didynamous. Stamen length
of longer pair: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stamen length of shorter
pair: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther
length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 144A. Pollen amount:
Moderate. Pollen color: 1D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per
flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid.
Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 137A. Style length:
Approximately 1.6 cm. Style color: 145D with 145B near stigma.
Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous.
Ovary color: 144A. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor
fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance:
Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Verbena has not been
observed.
* * * * *