Tecoma plant named `Balbahset`

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Tecoma plant named `Balbahset`, characterized by its dark greyed-orange colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Tecoma stans.

Variety denomination: `Balbahset`.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Tecoma plant botanically known as Tecoma stans and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Balbahset`.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during March 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Tecoma cultivars having early continuous flowering and upright, well-branched habits.

The new Tecoma cultivar is the result of self-pollination of the proprietary Tecoma stans breeding selection coded 19555, not patented, characterized by its medium orange-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during September 2016 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2016 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. 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 `Balbahset` as a new and distinct cultivar of Tecoma plant: 1. Dark greyed-orange colored flowers; 2. Dark green-colored foliage; and 3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in having darker orange-colored flowers, more branches per plant, and more inflorescences per plant.

Of the many commercially available Tecoma cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Bahama Yellow Orange `Balbahelor`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,633. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of `Balbahelor` in at least the following characteristic: 1. Plants of the new cultivar have greyed-orange colored petal lobes unlike the yellow-colored petal lobes of plants of `Balbahelor`; 2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker greyed-orange colored corolla tube than plants of `Balbahelor`; and 3. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller corolla, as measured by depth and diameter, than plants of `Balbahelor`.

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 `Balbahset`. The plants were approximately 27 weeks old and were grown for approximately 15 weeks in an outdoor nursery in Buellton, Calif.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of `Balbahset`.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of `Balbahset`.

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 September 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 27-week-old plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants. Cuttings were direct stuck in 2-inch pots and given one pinch four weeks after sticking. Plants and were grown for 12 weeks before transplant into an outdoor nursery in Buellton, Calif. Plants were then grown for approximately 15 weeks. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Tecoma stans `Balbahset`. Parentage: Female and male parents.--Proprietary Tecoma stans breeding selection coded 19555, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.--Softwood cutting. Time to initiate roots.--Approximately 14 to 21 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.--Approximately 5 to 7 weeks. Root description.--Medium thickness. Rooting habit.--Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Commercial crop time.--Approximately 14 to 20 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container. Growth habit and general appearance.--Shrub, moderately vigorous, upright. Hardiness.--USDA Zone 8 (10.degree. F. to 20.degree. F.). Heat tolerance.--Regularly tolerates temperatures as high as 40.6.degree. C. (105 .degree. F.) in the summer. Size.--Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 62.0 cm. Width: Approximately 51.0 cm. Branching habit.--Freely branching. Pinching improves basal branching. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45.degree. from center. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 3 main stems per plant with approximately 4 to 6 lateral branches per stem. Lateral branches.--Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately 17.0 cm long. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of young stems: Glabrous with lenticels of approximately 1.0 mm in length. Texture of mature stems: Rough, woody. Color of young stems: 146A with lenticels of 199B. Color of mature stems: 146A tinted with 187A in sun, becoming woody N199B with age. Foliage description: General description.--Form: Compound, odd-pinnately. Arrangement: Opposite. Fragrance: None detected. Quantity of leaflets per leaf: Approximately 5 to 9. Leaves.--Aspect: Acute to perpendicular to stem. Shape of overall leaf: Ovate. Shape of leaflets: Ovate to elliptic. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Rounded to oblique. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 13.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm. Length of terminal leaflet: Approximately 5.5 cm. Width of terminal leaflet: Approximately 3.0 cm. Length of lateral leaflet: Approximately 4.7 cm. Width of lateral leaflet: Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Rugulous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 146A with venation color of 146C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 146B with venation color of 146C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation appearing slightly darker. Leaf petiole.--Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146B to 146C tinted with 187A. Leaflet petiole.--Length: Approximately 1.0 mm to sessile. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146B to 146C tinted with 187A. Flowering description: Flowering season.--`Balbahset` is free flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming in warm climates. Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.--Approximately 5 to 7 days. General description.--Terminal panicles. Aspect: Facing upward to outward. Fragrance: Slight, sweet in evening. Quantity inflorescences per plant: Approximately 7. Diameter: Approximately 14.0 cm. Height: Approximately 19.0 cm. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 12 to 15 with up to 27 at peak flower. Peduncle.--Strength: Strong. Shape: Rounded. Aspect: Erect to about 45.degree. from branch axis. Length: Approximately 4.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 146A tinted with 187A. Flower description: General description.--Type: Salverform, flared trumpet. Bud.--Rate of opening: Generally takes 7 to 10 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Bud just before opening.--Shape: Obovoid. Depth: Approximately 3.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: 178A to 178B with 172B to 172C on dorsal surface. Corolla.--Depth: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.1 cm. Petal lobes.--Quantity: 5, imbricate near base. Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape: Ovate. Appearance: Dull, wavy. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open: 168B to 168C with an overlay of 169A primarily on upper petals. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: N163D with an overlay of 172B. Corolla tube.--Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter at tube opening: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: 163A and 172B with venation and throat opening of N34A to N34B. Color of outer surface: N163D with a heavy overlay of 172B. Calyx.--Shape: Cup, with five acute tips. Margin of free portion: Entire, ciliate. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. Color of inner and outer surfaces: 144A with an overlay of N187A, overlay more prominent on outer surface. Pedicel.--Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute angle. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per flower, didynamous, adnate to tube, fixed portion glandular pubescent, anthers sparsely pubescent. Stamen length: Longer pair of approximately 3.0 cm and shorter pair of approximately 2.7 cm. Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately 9.0 mm. Filament color: 155A tinted with 171A. Anther shape: Divergent. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 158D. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Stigma shape: Two-lipped. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 154D. Style length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary color: 144B. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Tecoma has not been observed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Tecoma plant named `Balbahset`, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

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