U.S. patent number PP34,156 [Application Number 17/501,721] was granted by the patent office on 2022-04-19 for calibrachoa plant named `balcongwiti`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ball Horticultural Company. The grantee listed for this patent is Ball Horticultural Company. Invention is credited to Laura L. Masor.
United States Patent |
PP34,156 |
Masor |
April 19, 2022 |
Calibrachoa plant named `Balcongwiti`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named
`Balcongwiti`, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium
green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and a compact-mounded
growth habit, is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Masor; Laura L. (Grover Beach,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ball Horticultural Company |
West Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ball Horticultural Company
(West Chicago, IL)
|
Appl.
No.: |
17/501,721 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/413 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/82 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/413 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Charles; Audrey
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named
`Balcongwiti`, substantially as herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x
hybrida.
Variety denomination: `Balcongwiti`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida and
hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Balcongwiti`.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in
Guadalupe, Calif. during April 2019. The objective of the breeding
program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with
attractive novelty flower coloration, and a compact-mounded growth
habit.
The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination.
The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary
Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-16202-01, not
patented, characterized by its white colored flowers having a light
yellow colored center, medium green colored foliage, low growth
vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent
of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida
breeding selection coded CAL-16295-01, not patented, characterized
by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and
moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar
was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the
above stated cross-pollination during September 2019 in a
controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings
since September 2019 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 `Balcongwiti` as
a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant: 1. White-colored
flowers; 2. Medium green-colored foliage; 3. Low growth vigor; and
4. A compact-mounded growth habit.
Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent
primarily in having white colored flowers. Plants of the new
cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having
lower growth vigor.
Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most
similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Conga White
`Balcongite`, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons,
plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of `Balcongite` in at
least the following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new cultivar
have larger diameter corollas than plants of `Balcongite`, and 2.
Plants of the new cultivar have more branches per plant than plants
of `Balcongite`.
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 `Balcongwiti`. The plants were
approximately 5-months old. The plants were grown in 3-gallon
containers for approximately 10 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West
Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched twice prior to transplant.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering
habit of `Balcongwiti`.
FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of
`Balcongwiti`.
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 August
2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.
The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately
5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and
grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial
practice. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for
approximately 10 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill.
Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to
transplant plants were grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West
Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at
approximately 70.degree. F. to 85.degree. F. (21.degree. C. to
29.degree. C.) during the day and approximately 60.degree. F. to
70.degree. F. (16.degree. C. to 21.degree. C.) during the night.
Supplemental lighting was used during propagation stage.
Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical
plants. Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida
`Balcongwiti`. Parentage: Female parent.--Proprietary Calibrachoa x
hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-16202-01, not patented. Male
parent.--Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection
CAL-16295-01, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.--Terminal
stem. Time to initiate roots.--Approximately 6 to 8 days. Time to
produce a rooted cutting.--Approximately 21 to 28 days. Root
description.--Fibrous. Rooting habit.--Freely branching. Plant
description: Commercial crop time.--Approximately 5 to 8 weeks from
a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot. Growth habit and general
appearance.--Low vigor, compact-mounded. Size.--Height from soil
level to top of plant plane: Approximately 18.0 cm. Width:
Approximately 52.0 cm. Branching habit.--Freely branching, pinching
enhances basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:
Approximately 7. Branch.--Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately
20.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of
central internode: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent
with a mixture of non-glandular and glandular hairs. Gland color:
Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 146D. Color of mature
stems: 146D with age becoming woody 199C. Foliage description:
General description.--Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple. Arrangement
on flowering stem: Alternate. Leaves.--Aspect: At acute angle to
stem with tip turning downward with age. Shape: Elliptic. Margin:
Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:
Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.2 cm. Width of
mature leaf: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower
surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,
transparent. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage:
137B with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young and
mature foliage: Closest to 138B with midvein of 146D.
Petiole.--Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0
mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,
transparent. Color: 146D. Flowering description: Flowering
habit.--`Balcongwiti` 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. Flower description: General description.--Type: Single,
salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately 180. Fragrance: None
detected. Bud.--Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for
bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per
plant: Approximately 70. Bud just before opening.--Shape: Oblong.
Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.
Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,
transparent. Color: Petal portion 8D, tube portion 154C, venation
of 145A. Corolla.--Diameter: Approximately 2.8 cm.
Petals.--Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate. Margin:
Entire. Apex: Obtuse to shallowly notched. Length from tube:
Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately 5.0 mm.
Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.
Texture of lower surface: Glandular pubescent, dense along
venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper
surface when first and fully open: NN155D with 8B at throat opening
and midveins of 144A. Color of lower surface when first and fully
open: NN155D with midveins of 144B. Corolla tube.--Length:
Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 5.0 mm.
Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner
surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular
pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner
surface: 8B with weak venation of 144A. Color of outer surface:
154D with venation of 145A. Sepals.--Quantity per flower: 5, fused
along lower half. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Length:
Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper
and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:
Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of
lower surface: 137B with 146D at base. Peduncle.--Strength: Strong,
flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 1.2
cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular
pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D.
Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5, basifixed.
Stamen length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament length of fixed
portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament color: 150D. Anther shape:
Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color:
8C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8D. Gynoecium: Pistil
quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma
shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 146D.
Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary
diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 145B. Seed and fruit
production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests
common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.
* * * * *