U.S. patent number PP34,015 [Application Number 17/356,852] was granted by the patent office on 2022-03-15 for hibiscus plant named `altearlybird`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Altman Specialty Plants Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Altman Specialty Plants, Inc. Invention is credited to Peter Lim.
United States Patent |
PP34,015 |
Lim |
March 15, 2022 |
Hibiscus plant named `ALTEARLYBIRD`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named
`ALTEARLYBIRD` is disclosed, characterized by golden orange-yellow
blooms with magenta base. Plants have a low growing, upright habit,
and dark, narrow, glossy foliage that is resistant to leaf spot
disease. Flowering is early and continuous. The new variety is a
Hibiscus, typically produced as an ornamental plant.
Inventors: |
Lim; Peter (Escondido, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Altman Specialty Plants, Inc |
Vista |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Altman Specialty Plants Inc.
(Vista, CA)
|
Appl.
No.: |
17/356,852 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/257 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/60 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/257 |
Primary Examiner: Hwu; June
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bright; Cassandra
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named
`ALTEARLYBIRD` as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
Variety denomination: `ALTEARLYBIRD`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The new Hibiscus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding
program conducted by the inventor, Peter Lim. The objective of the
breeding program was to produce vigorous Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
cultivars with healthy foliage. The cross resulting in this new
variety was made Jul. 1, 2012.
The seed parent is the unpatented Hibiscus rosa-sinensis `Luau
Lilikoi Yellow`. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis `Spin the Bottle`. The new variety was
identified and selected as a potentially interesting selection in
September 2014. Selection was made at a commercial nursery in
Vista, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar `ALTEARLYBIRD` was first
performed on Sep. 11, 2014 in Vista, Calif., by vegetative
cuttings. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features
of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in
successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar `ALTEARLYBIRD` has not been observed under all
possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat
with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and
light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are
determined to be the unique characteristics of `ALTEARLYBIRD`.
These characteristics in combination distinguish `ALTEARLYBIRD` as
a new and distinct Hibiscus cultivar: 1. Golden orange-yellow
blooms with magenta base. 2. Early blooming. 3. Low growing,
upright plant habit. 4. Constant flowering. 5. Dark green, glossy
foliage that is resistant to leaf spot disease.
PARENT COMPARISONS
Plants of the new cultivar `ALTEARLYBIRD` are similar to the seed
parent `Luau Lilikoi Yellow`, in most horticultural
characteristics. However, characteristics of the new cultivar
differ in the following: 1. The new variety blooms earlier than the
seed parent.
Plants of the new cultivar `ALTEARLYBIRD` are similar to the pollen
parent `Spin the Bottle`, in most horticultural characteristics.
However, characteristics of the new cultivar differ in the
following: 1. Flowers of the new variety have more evenly spaced
and formed petals. 2. The new variety blooms earlier than the
pollen parent.
COMMERCIAL COMPARISON
Plants of `ALTEARLYBIRD` are similar in some horticultural
characteristics to the variety Hibiscus `Social Butterfly`,
unpatented. The new variety, however, differs in the following: 1.
Flowers of `ALTEARLYBIRD` are smaller than flowers of `Social
Butterfly`. 2. Plants of `Social Butterfly` have a taller growth
habit than `ALTEARLYBIRD`. 3. Flowers of `ALTEARLYBIRD` are
orange-yellow with a magenta base, while flowers of `Social
Butterfly` are pink, fuchsia, yellow, and white.
Plants of `ALTEARLYBIRD` are similar in some horticultural
characteristics to the variety Hibiscus `Early Spring`, unpatented.
The new variety, however, differs in the following: 1. Flowers of
`ALTEARLYBIRD` are smaller than flowers of `Early Spring`. 2.
Plants of `Early Spring` have a taller growth habit than
`ALTEARLYBIRD`. 3. Flowers of `ALTEARLYBIRD` are orange-yellow with
a magenta base, while flowers of `Early Spring` are pink with a
yellow edge, and white eyes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH
The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical
flower of `ALTEARLYBIRD` from a plant grown outdoors at a
commercial nursery in Vista, Calif. The photograph was taken using
conventional techniques and although colors may appear different
from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as
possible by conventional photographic techniques.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
In the following description, color references are made to The
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general
terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following
observations and measurements describe a `ALTEARLYBIRD` plant. This
plant was grown at a commercial nursery in Vista, Calif. The
growing temperature ranged from about 7.degree. C. to 30.degree. C.
during the day and from about 5.degree. C. to 12.degree. C. during
the night. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given
to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages
of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Hibiscus
rosa-sinensis `ALTEARLYBIRD`.
PROPAGATION
Typical method: Hardwood stem cuttings. Root description: Roots are
fine, fibrous and well branched. Tan/brown in color, not
effectively measured with a color chart.
PLANT
Plant type: Tender, woody flowering shrub. Age of plant described:
Approximately 2 years old. Growth habit: Upright and compact.
Height: 50 cm. Plant spread: 68 cm. Branching characteristics: 2 to
4 breaks from a pinch, occurring at acute angles. Length of primary
lateral branches: 15 to 35 cm. Quantity of lateral branches: About
8 to 12. Characteristics of primary lateral branches:
Diameter.--Average range 9 mm to 15 mm. Color.--New growth near RHS
Green 143B, flushed Greyed-Purple 183B, mature growth near RHS
Greyed-Green 197B, striated Grey-Brown N199A. Texture.--New growth
very slightly hirsute, older growth striated. Internode length: 2
to 3 cm.
FOLIAGE
Leaf: Arrangement.--Alternate. Quantity.--Approximately 20 per
branch. Average length.--8 to 9 cm, excluding petiole. Average
width.--6 to 7 cm. Shape of blade.--Obovate. Apex.--Rounded.
Base.--Obtuse. Margin.--Entire, few very shallow and infrequent
crenations toward apex. Texture of top surface.--Glabrous. Texture
of bottom surface.--Glabrous. Color.--Young foliage upper side: RHS
Green 137A. Young foliage under side: RHS Green 137C. Mature
foliage upper side: RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: RHS
Green 137B. Venation.--Type: Pinnate. Venation color, upper side:
RHS Green 138A. Venation color, under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.
Petiole.--Length: 3 to 3.5 cm. Diameter: 3 to 4 mm. Color: RHS
Green 137B, base flushed Greyed-Purple 183A. Texture: Upper surface
very slightly pubescent, lower surface glabrous. Stipule.--Shape:
Narrow deltoid. Length: 5 to 6 mm. Width: 3 mm. Color: Upper side:
Near RHS Green 138B. Upper side: Near RHS Green 138C. Texture:
Slight rough pubescence.
FLOWER
Natural flowering season: Late Spring through Summer. Flower type
and habit: Solitary, rotate. Single, double, multiplex.--Single.
Petals overlapping.--Strongly overlapping. Rate of flower opening:
1 to 2 days from bud to fully opened flower. Flower longevity on
plant: 1 to 2 days. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.
Bud: Shape.--Ovate. Length.--5 cm. Diameter.--2.2 cm. Color.--RHS
Yellow-Green 145C, lightly flushed Red 51C. Flower size:
Diameter.--12 cm. Depth.--7 cm. Petals: Quantity.--5.
Arrangement.--Whorled, strongly overlapping, changing to moderately
overlapping at full maturity. Length.--9 cm. Width.--8 cm.
Shape.--Broad spatulate. Apex.--Obtuse rounded with moderate
ruffles and shallow crenations. Base.--Attenuate. Margin.--Entire,
moderate ruffling. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.--Smooth,
slightly rugose on lower half. Color.--When opening, upper surface:
RHS Orange 24A, basal blotch (forming flower eye) Red-Purple 58A,
flushed N57A. When opening, lower surface: RHS Orange 25B, basal
blotch faintly flushed Red-Purple 59C. Fully opened, upper surface:
RHS Yellow-Orange 23A, flushed 22A. Basal blotch (forming flower
eye) Red 53C, flushed N57A. Fully opened, lower surface: RHS Orange
26B, flushed 26A. Basal section, flushed near Red 54C, faint
streaks near Red-Purple 61A. Ratio of basal blotch/eye to petal
size: About 20% of petal blade blotched. Feathering color: RHS
White 155A. Feathering size: Slight, about 15 mm long. Sepals:
Quantity.--5. Length.--2.0 cm. Width.--2 cm. Shape.--Ovate.
Margin.--Entire. Apex.--Acute. Base.--Fused. Color.--Upper surface:
RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Lower surface: RHS Green 143C.
Texture.--Lower surface very short hirsute, upper surface glabrous.
Epicalyx: Quantity of bracts.--5. Bract length.--1.5 cm to 2 cm.
Bract width.--5 to 7 mm. Bract shape.--Narrow deltate. Bract
margin.--Entire. Color.--RHS Yellow-Green 144B upper surface, Green
143B lower surface. Texture.--Glabrous all surfaces. Peduncles:
Length.--5.5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter.--3 to 4 mm.
Angle.--Approximately 45.degree. to the lateral branch.
Strength.--Strong. Texture.--Roughly pubescent. Color.--RHS
Yellow-Green 144A. Very small basal flush near Greyed-Purple 187A.
Fragrance: None.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Stamens: Number.--About 50. Filament length.--4 to 6 mm. Filament
color.--Near RHS Red 52C. Anthers: Shape.--Irregular sphere.
Length.--About 2 mm. Color.--Near RHS Yellow 9A. Pollen
color.--Near RHS Orange 26A. Pollen amount.--Scant. Pistil:
Number.--1. Length.--7 cm. Style.--Length: 6.8 cm. Color: Lower
section near RHS Red-Purple N57B, upper section near Red-Purple
58D. Highly iridescent throughout. Stigma.--Shape: Peltate. Color:
Near RHS Red 46A. Ovary color.--Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Seeds: Not observed. Disease/pest resistance: Observed resistance
to leaf spot disease(assumed Pseudomonas syringae). No other
resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis have been observed. Temperature tolerance:
USDA Zones 8 through 11.
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