U.S. patent number PP33,042 [Application Number 17/005,639] was granted by the patent office on 2021-05-11 for nepeta plant named `balpurrlu`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ball Horticultural Company. The grantee listed for this patent is Ball Horticultural Company. Invention is credited to Christa Kievit.
United States Patent |
PP33,042 |
Kievit |
May 11, 2021 |
Nepeta plant named `Balpurrlu`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant named `Balpurrlu`,
characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, dark
green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded
growth habit, is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Kievit; Christa (Hem,
NL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ball Horticultural Company |
West Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ball Horticultural Company
(West Chicago, IL)
|
Appl.
No.: |
17/005,639 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/263.1 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/50 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/263.1 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Charles; Audrey
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant named `Balpurrlu`,
substantially as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Nepeta x
faassenii.
Variety denomination: `Balpurrlu`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Nepeta plant botanically known as Nepeta x faassenii and
hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Balpurrlu`.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in
Hem, the Netherlands during August 2015. The objective of the
breeding program was the development of Nepeta cultivars having a
long flowering season, large inflorescences, and an upright-mounded
growth habit.
The new Nepeta cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The
female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Nepeta
x faassenii breeding selection coded C052-3, not patented,
characterized by its light violet-blue colored flowers, medium
green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The
male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new
cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the
progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2016 in a
controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings
since July 2016 in Hem, the Netherlands and Elburn, 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 `Balpurrlu` as a
new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant: 1. Medium violet-blue
colored flowers; 2. Dark green-colored foliage; and 3. Moderately
vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.
Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent
primarily in having darker violet-blue colored flowers, larger
inflorescences, and a more mounded growth habit.
Of the many commercially available Nepeta cultivars, the most
similar in comparison to the new cultivar is `Walker's Low`, not
patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new
cultivar differ from plants of `Walker's Low` in at least the
following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new cultivar are
shorter than plants of `Walker's Low`; 2. Plants of the new
cultivar have green-colored foliage which is different from the
grey-green colored foliage of plants of `Walker's Low`; and 3.
Plants of the new cultivar have a longer bloom period than plants
of `Walker's Low`.
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 `Balpurrlu`. The plants were approximately
14 weeks old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for
approximately 7 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill.
Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering
habit of `Balpurrlu`.
FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of
`Balpurrlu`.
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 June
2020 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.
The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately
14 weeks old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and
grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial
practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for
approximately 7 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill.
Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to
transplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse
in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an
average high of 69.3.degree. F. (20.7.degree. C.) to an average low
of 63.6.degree. F. (17.6.degree. C.), and supplemental lighting was
provided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements and
numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical
classification: Nepeta x faassenii `Balpurrlu`. Parentage: Female
parent.--Proprietary Nepeta x faassenii breeding selection coded
C052-3, not patented. Male parent.--Unknown. Propagation: Type
cutting.--Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.--Approximately 10
to 12 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.--Approximately 5 to 6
weeks. Root description.--Fine to medium, fibrous. Rooting
habit.--Freely branching. Plant description: Commercial crop
time.--Approximately 9 to 11 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish
in a 15 cm pot. Growth habit and general appearance.--Herbaceous
perennial; moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.
Hardiness.--USDA Zone 4 (-30.degree. F. to -20.degree.
F./-34.4.degree. C. to -28.9.degree. C.). Size.--Height from soil
level to top of plant plane: Approximately 18.0 cm. Width:
Approximately 22.0 cm Branching habit.--Freely branching slightly
decumbent, pinching enhances lateral branching. Quantity of
branches per plant: Approximately 5 main branches, each having up
to 6 axillary branches. Lateral branch.--Shape: Square in cross
section. Strength: Strong, flexible. Length to base of peduncle:
Approximately 10.0 cm Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.
Length of central internode: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture: Densely
pubescent. Color of young and mature stem: 146C. Foliage
description: General description.--Quantity of leaves per branch:
Approximately 8 to 10. Fragrance: Moderate minty. Form: Simple.
Arrangement: Opposite. Leaves.--Aspect: Petiole at acute angle to
stem with blade perpendicular. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate with
slightly rounded teeth. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Shallowly
cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:
Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.3 cm.
Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color of
upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137B with
137A and venation of 146C. Color of lower surface of young and
mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 147C.
Petiole.--Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0
mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146C. Flowering description:
Flowering habit.--`Balpurrlu` is a long-day facultative, freely
flowering blooming from spring through summer under outdoor growing
conditions. Lastingness of individual floret.--Approximately 6 to 7
days. Inflorescence description: General description.--Type:
Terminal, dense, multi-flowered head-like cyme. Quantity of open
inflorescences per plant: Approximately 6. Fragrance: Moderate
minty. Length or height of inflorescence: Approximately 5.0 cm to
9.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity of
fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 3 to 12.
Peduncle.--Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately
3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely
pubescent. Color: 146C. Flower description: Type.--Single,
zygomorphic. Bud just before opening.--Shape: Clavate. Length:
Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture:
Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular
hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 155D and 90A.
Corolla.--Shape: Bilabiate with a bell-shaped tube, upper lip of
two lobes and lower lip having three lobes. Aspect: Facing upward
and outward. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length: Approximately 7.0
mm. Depth: Approximately 1.2 cm. Upper lip lobes.--Shape: Oblong.
Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately
2.5 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)
surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Densely
pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland
color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when
first and fully open: 90D. Color of lower (outer) surface when
first and fully open: NN155D with margin of 90D. Lower lip, lateral
lobes.--Shape: Orbicular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length
from throat: Approximately 1.5 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 mm.
Texture of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower
(outer) surface: Moderately pubescent with a mixture of glandular
and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color
of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: 90D. Color of
lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: NN155D with margin
of 90D. Lower lip, central lobe.--Shape: Fan-like. Margin: Crenate.
Apex: Emarginate. Length from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width:
Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface: Densely
pubescent at center at throat opening. Texture of lower (outer)
surface: Densely pubescent in center with a mixture of glandular
and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color
of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: 94B to 94D with
NN155D in center. Color of lower (outer) surface when first and
fully open: 94D. Corolla tube.--Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width
at opening: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width at base: 1.0 mm. Texture of
inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely
pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland
color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with
spots of 94A. Color of outer surface: NN155D. Calyx.--Shape:
Tubular with 5 tips. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:
Approximately 2.0 mm. Sepals.--Quantity per flower: 5. Apex: Acute.
Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: 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: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface:
146D. Color of outer surface: 146D occasionally lightly tinted with
N186A. Pedicel.--Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute
angle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Diameter:
Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146D
occasionally tinted with 187A. Reproductive organs.--Androecium:
Stamen quantity: 4 per flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm.
Filament length of free portion: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.
Filament color: NN155D, translucent. Anther shape: Divergent,
opening by a common slit. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.
Anther color: 155D. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil
quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Stigma
shape: Bifurcate. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma
color: 90A. Style length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Style color: NN155D
with an overlay of 90D that is heavy near stigma. Ovary length:
Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: N144D. Seed and fruit
production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests
common to Nepeta has not been observed.
* * * * *