U.S. patent number PP33,650 [Application Number 17/173,658] was granted by the patent office on 2021-11-16 for gaillardia plant named `sunset halo`.
The grantee listed for this patent is Jennifer Muriel Lintott, Charles Richard Read. Invention is credited to Keith George Lintott, Charles Richard Read.
United States Patent |
PP33,650 |
Read , et al. |
November 16, 2021 |
Gaillardia plant named `Sunset Halo`
Abstract
A new cultivar of Gaillardia named `Sunset Halo` that is
distinguishable by a compact and dense plant habit and large
brightly bicolored inflorescences which are red in their centers
with a wide outer yellow ring is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Read; Charles Richard (Bognor
Regis, GB), Lintott; Keith George (Bognor Regis,
GB) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Read; Charles Richard
Lintott; Jennifer Muriel |
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis |
N/A
N/A |
GB
GB |
|
|
Appl.
No.: |
17/173,658 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/431 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/14 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/263.1,431 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Assistant Examiner: Redden; Karen M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Weatherly IP Solutions, LLC
Weatherly; James M.
Claims
We claim:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant named `Sunset
Halo` as described and illustrated herein.
Description
Genus and species: Gaillardia x grandiflora.
Variety denomination: `Sunset Halo`.
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Gaillardia plant, also known as a blanket flower, an herbaceous
perennial that is grown for use as an ornamental landscape and
container plant. The new variety is known botanically as Gaillardia
x grandiflora and will be referred to hereinafter by the variety
name `Sunset Halo`. Gaillardia is in the family Compositae, under
which the commonly referred to "flower" is actually the
inflorescence, and made up of smaller ray florets and disc florets.
The ray florets themselves have the appearance of "petals".
`Sunset Halo` originated and was selected from a large population
of hybrid seedlings from a Gaillardia breeding program started in
2006. The breeding program was conducted in a greenhouse nursery in
West Sussex, United Kingdom. The aims of the breeding program were
to produce novel combinations of flower colors and flower forms
which are borne on well-branched plants with sturdy growth habits.
The inventors carried out a controlled hybridization using
combinations of selected named varieties and selected unnamed and
unreleased seedlings retained from previous breeding cycles.
`Sunset Halo` was selected in 2013 for its large flowers comprised
of two rows (layers) of bicolored (two-thirds red and one-third
yellow) ray florets. `Sunset Halo` flowers continually from spring
until fall. `Sunset Halo` was also selected for its compact and
dense branching habit and its short flower stems.
The hybridization which led to the selection of `Sunset Halo` was
carried out during 2012 using a proprietary unreleased seedling
known as `1051-1` (unpatented) as the male parent and a proprietary
unreleased seedling known as `1039-1` (unpatented) as the female
parent.
`Sunset Halo` was first asexually propagated in September 2014 in a
greenhouse at the inventors nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom
using shoot cuttings taken from lateral branches. `Sunset Halo` has
been proven stable and to reproduce true to type in successive
generations of asexual reproduction.
SUMMARY
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent
the distinguishing characteristics of `Sunset Halo`. `Sunset Halo`
has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic
differences may be observed with variations in environmental,
climatic, and cultural conditions, without however, any variance in
genotype. 1. `Sunset Halo` exhibits a compact and dense branching
plant habit. 2. `Sunset Halo` exhibits single inflorescences
composed of two close layers of flat ray florets. 3. The ray
florets are markedly bicolored red and yellow, that is red towards
the base and yellow towards the apex such that the whole
inflorescence appears to have a bright yellow outer ring or halo.
4. The disc of `Sunset Halo` is deep red in color when the
inflorescence is fully expanded. 5. `Sunset Halo` blooms
continually from early spring until late fall. 6. `Sunset Halo` is
very floriferous over a long blooming period. 7. After one year's
growth in a 3-liter container, `Sunset Halo` is 30 cm to 35 cm in
height and 35 cm to 40 cm in width. 8. `Sunset Halo` is hardy in
USDA zone 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall
appearance of the new Gaillardia cultivar `Sunset Halo` showing the
colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored
reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ
from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description,
which more accurately describes the actual colors of the new
variety `Sunset Halo`.
FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant of `Sunset Halo` which has been grown
in a frost-free greenhouse in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The
illustrated plant is one year old and has been grown without any
pinching or chemical growth regulator.
FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the fully expanded inflorescence
of `Sunset Halo`.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY
The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive
characteristics of `Sunset Halo`. Observations, measurements,
values, and comparisons were collected in August 2020 in Santa
Barbara, Calif. from a one year old plant grown outdoors in full
sun in freely drained proprietary peat-based potting soil. Color
determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 Royal
Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, except
where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are
used. Classification: Family.--Compositae. Genus.--Gaillardia.
Species.--X grandiflora. Common name.--Blanket flower. Parentage:
Female parent.--Gaillardia code number `1039-1` (unpatented). Male
parent.--Gaillardia code number `1051-1` (unpatented). Plant:
Propagation method.--Softwood cuttings. Root system.--Fine and
fibrous. Vigor.--Moderate vigor. Time to initiate
roots.--Approximately 14 to 20 days are needed to develop roots on
initial cuttings. Temperatures to initiate rooting.--The
recommended air temperature is 20-21.degree. Centigrade. Crop
time.--Approximately 10 weeks to 2 months are needed to produce a
finished 15 cm diameter container plant from a rooted cutting.
Growth habit.--Compact and naturally freely branching. Suggested
container size.--15 cm container. Use.--Ornamental for use as a
landscape plant or container plant. Type.--Herbaceous perennial.
Plant dimensions.--After one year's growth in a 3-liter container:
30 cm to 35 cm in height and 35 cm to 40 cm in width. Cultural
requirements.--Grow in full sun with moderate water, and
well-draining soil such as loam. Hardiness.--USDA Zone 5. Growing
requirements.--If grown outside in regions which experience winter
freezing, `Sunset Halo` may be started as a cutting during the
spring or summer of the previous year, planted out prior to the
onset of winter, and flowering will commence typically in May or
June according to the region and season. When grown outside in
frost-free regions, or in frost-protected greenhouses, `Sunset
Halo` will flower virtually all year round and may be started as a
cutting (which should be non-flowering) at any time of year.
Pinching.--Plants may be pinched or stopped at approximately 5 cm
to 8 cm above soil level in order to encourage prolific lateral
branching. Stems: Branching habit.--Prolific branching after
initial pinch. Stem color.--141C. Stem length.--Basal stem below
first branch: 5 cm to 8 cm depending on height of pinch. Lateral
branches: 8 cm to 12 cm. Stem diameter.--5 mm to 6 mm (basal stem),
4 mm (lateral stems). Stem shape.--Cylindrical, slightly fluted
longitudinally. Stem surface.--Markedly villous with dense coverage
of very fine silvery hairs, approximately 3 mm to 4 mm in length.
Internode distance (average).--2 cm. Foliage: Type.--Evergreen.
Leaf arrangement.--Alternate. Margin.--Entire. Leaf
shape.--Oblanceolate. Leaf dimensions.--7.0 cm in length, 1.5 cm in
width. Leaf base.--Truncate. Leaf apex.--Acute. Leaf
attachment.--Sessile. Leaf color (both surfaces).--141C. Leaf
venation pattern.--Pinnate. Vein color (both surfaces).--As leaf,
141C, except midrib lighter (both surfaces) 138D. Leaf surface
(both surfaces).--Pubescent, very fine silvery hairs, lighter than
156D, approximately 3 mm in length. Fragrance.--A slight sage-like
scent when bruised. Inflorescence: Inflorescence.--Solitary.
Aspect.--Facing upward. Dimensions of inflorescence.--70 mm in
diameter and 15 mm in height. Inflorescence type.--Radiate capitate
with central disc. Disc diameter (inflorescence fully
expanded).--26 mm. Inflorescence number per plant.--A one-year old
plant bears approximately 35 to 40 open and opening inflorescences,
and 15 to 20 buds (green, prior to coloring) at one time. Blooming
season.--Spring, summer and fall. Lastingness of inflorescence on
the plant.--7 days, reducing to 4 days in full sun in mid-summer.
Peduncle: Peduncle dimensions.--5 cm to 8 cm in length and 2.0 mm
in diameter. Peduncle shape.--Cylindrical. Peduncle
surface.--Surface is pubescent and exhibits longitudinal ridges.
Peduncle color.--141C where unexposed beneath the plant canopy,
becoming 182B where exposed to direct sunlight. Peduncle
strength.--Stiff. Flower buds: Bud shape.--Globular whorl. Bud
dimensions (before opening and coloring).--15 mm in diameter and
height. Bud color.--141C. Bud surface.--Villous. Ray florets:
Shape.--Cuneate. Surface texture.--Adaxial surface: Pubescent.
Abaxial surface: Glabrous. Arrangement.--Radiate, arranged in two
close layers. Number of ray florets per inflorescence.--45 to 55.
Margins of ray florets.--Entire. Dimensions.--22 mm to 25 mm in
length including the corolla tube, 7 mm in width at the widest
point. Apex.--Rounded, occasionally notched (2 or 3 notches), notch
depth up to 3 mm. Base.--Truncate. Corolla tube dimensions.--5 mm
in depth and 0.5 mm in diameter. Ray floret color (both
surfaces).--Red 46C to 46D for two-thirds of length from the base
and yellow 6A for one-third of length from the apex. Ray floret
veins (both surfaces).--Longitudinal, parallel, fine but prominent,
visible in petal blade as darker red 46C, not visible in yellow
lobes. Self-cleaning or persistent.--Self-cleaning. Disc florets:
Quantity of disc florets per inflorescence.--Numerous,
approximately 200 to 250. Disc floret dimensions (including pistil
length).--9 mm in length and 2.5 mm in width. Depth of disc floret
corolla tube.--6 mm. Surface of disc florets.--Lanate. Color of
disc florets (inflorescence fully expanded, both surfaces).--46D.
Phyllary.--Dimensions: 5.50 cm in diameter and 3 cm in length.
Color: 147B. Arrangement: Whorl. Involucral bracts.--Number: An
average of 25 per inflorescence. Shape: Oblanceolate. Dimensions: 2
cm in length and 0.50 cm in width. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.
Base: Truncate. Color (both surfaces): 141C. Surface texture (both
surfaces): Pubescent. Fragrance of inflorescence.--Sweet
honey-like. Reproductive organs: Stamens (present on disc florets
only).--Number: Three, adnate to inner surface of corolla tube.
Dimensions: 0.2 mm in width and 5 mm in length. Color: 17A. Form:
Plumose. Anther: Dimensions: 0.50 mm in length and 1 mm in width.
Color: 187A. Shape: Narrow lanceolate. Pollen: Present. Quantity:
Large amount. Color: 17C. Pistil (present on ray florets and disc
florets).--Number: One per floret. Length: 12 mm. Style dimensions:
2 mm in length and 1 mm in width. Style color: 150D. Stigma:
Dimensions: 8 mm in length and 1.75 mm in width. Form: Plumose.
Color: 187A. Shape: Bifurcate. Ovary: Position: Inferior. Color:
150D. Shape: Globose. Dimensions: 1 mm in width and 2 mm in height.
Seeds: Number of seeds.--Small to moderate amount (ranges from 50
to 100 seeds per inflorescence. Seed dimensions.--5 mm to 6 mm in
length (including hairs at apex) and 1 to 2 mm in diameter. Seed
color.--200A. Seed shape.--Conical with rounded base and apex. Seed
surface.--Smooth except at apex where many very fine silver hairs,
up to 2 mm in length, are present in circular groups. Disease and
pest susceptibility: `Sunset Halo` has not been observed to exhibit
any resistance to any particular pest or disease. `Sunset Halo` is
susceptible to downy mildew and to thrips as may be typical of
Gaillardia.
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY
Whereas both parent varieties bear bicolored red and yellow
inflorescences. The inflorescences of `Sunset Halo` are brighter
and more sharply contrasting with a wider concentric yellow outer
ring. `Sunset Halo` also exhibits a more compact and dense growth
habit than either parent.
The variety of Gaillardia which is considered to most closely
resemble `Sunset Halo` is the inventors' variety Gaillardia `Sunset
Cutie` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,970). The inventors consider that
`Sunset Halo` is a marked commercial improvement on `Sunset Cutie`
in that `Sunset Halo` is shorter and more dense in habit, and bears
flowers (inflorescences) which are brighter in color, with a wider
yellow outer ring.
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