U.S. patent number PP34,443 [Application Number 17/501,735] was granted by the patent office on 2022-07-26 for mahonia plant named `ncmh2`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to North Carolina State University. The grantee listed for this patent is North Carolina State University. Invention is credited to Nathan Lynch, Andra Windorf Nus, Irene Palmer, Thomas Ranney, Darren H. Touchell.
United States Patent |
PP34,443 |
Ranney , et al. |
July 26, 2022 |
Mahonia plant named `NCMH2`
Abstract
`NCMH2` is a new cultivar of Mahonia with a compact habit,
narrow evergreen foliage, showy red and yellow flowers and red new
foliage color.
Inventors: |
Ranney; Thomas (Arden, NC),
Touchell; Darren H. (Arden, NC), Nus; Andra Windorf
(Mills River, NC), Palmer; Irene (Mills River, NC),
Lynch; Nathan (Mills River, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
North Carolina State University |
Raleigh |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
North Carolina State University
(Raleigh, NC)
|
Appl.
No.: |
17/501,735 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/226 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
6/00 (20180101); A01H 5/02 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/226 |
Primary Examiner: Robinson; Keith O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Myers Bigel, P.A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct Mahonia plant named `NCMH2` as illustrated
and described herein.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel,
ornamental plant variety disclosed herein is Mahonia.
Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Mahonia disclosed
herein has been given the varietal denomination `NCMH2`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a new and distinct Mahonia cultivar
hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `NCMH2`. This new
Mahonia, `NCMH2`, was selected from a population of seedlings grown
from an open-pollinated hybrid NCSU H2009-018-063 (unpatented). The
first asexual propagation of `NCMH2` was carried out in December
2014 by rooting stem cuttings in Mills River, N.C. and has been
asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over a
5-year period. `NCMH2` roots from semi-hardwood and hardwood
cuttings were treated with a basal dip of 6,000-10,000 ppm indole
butyric acid (potassium salt) in water. `NCMH2` has been found to
retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual
propagations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`NCMH2` is distinguishable from other Mahonia cultivars, when grown
under standard horticultural practices in Mills River, N.C., by its
compact habit; narrow, evergreen foliage; showy racemes with
multicolored flowers that bloom sporadically throughout fall,
winter, and spring; and showy red new foliage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This new Mahonia is illustrated by the accompanying photographs
which show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colors
shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional
photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ
slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical
description, which accurately describe the colors of the new
Mahonia.
FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a typical specimen of a 3-year-old
Mahonia `NCMH2` grown under standard horticultural practices
showing the inflorescences of `NCMH2` taken in October 2019 in
Mills River, N.C.
FIG. 2 is a color photograph of a typical specimen of Mahonia
`NCMH2` grown under standard horticultural practices showing the
flowers, habit, and new foliage color of a two-year old plant of
`NCMH2` growing in Arden, N.C. and taken in March 2019.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Although Mahonia species are sometimes classified as Berberis, the
most recent taxonomic treatment by Yu and Chung Taxon
66(6):1371-1392 (2017) classifies Mahonia and Berberis as separate
genera. The following is a detailed description of the botanical
characteristics of the new and distinct Mahonia variety plant known
by the denomination `NCMH2`. All colors cited herein refer to The
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations (The Royal
Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, Sixth Edition (2016). Where
specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are
given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are
approximations or averages set forth as accurately as
practicable.
The detailed descriptions reported herein were taken in 2019 from a
three-year-old container-grown plant that was grown in Mills River,
N.C. under standard horticultural practices. Mahonia `NCMH2` has
not been observed under all possible environmental conditions;
therefore, the phenotype may vary under different environmental
conditions such as season, temperature, light intensity, day
length, cultural conditions, and the like, without however, any
variance in the genotype.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Classification: Botanical name.--Mahonia `NCMH2`. Common
name.--Mahonia. Variety name.--`NCMH2`. Parentage: Selected from a
population of seedlings grown from an open-pollinated hybrid, NCSU
H2009-018-063 (unpatented). The female parent, H2009-018-063, is a
complex hybrid that includes Mahonia eurybracteata, M. gracilipes,
M. japonica, and M. lomariifolia in its pedigree. Plant
description: Growth habit.--Compact and upright shrub. Growth
rate.--Moderate. Height.--About 100 cm. Width.--About 60 cm. Roots:
Type.--Fibrous. Root color.--Moderate Yellow (RHS 160A). Shoot and
stem: Lateral branch length.--Average is .about.28 cm (.about.18 cm
to .about.44 cm). Lateral branch diameter.--Average is .about.0.8
cm (.about.0.5 cm to .about.1.2 cm). Internode length.--Average is
.about.5.4 cm (.about.3 cm to .about.7.5 cm). Immature shoot
texture (current year).--Glabrous. Immature shoot color (current
year).--Yellow-Green (RHS 144A). Mature stem texture (from prior
year).--Glabrous with vertical fissures. Mature stem color (from
prior year).--Grey-Brown (RHS N199B). Leaves: Type.--Compound,
odd-pinnate. Persistence.--Evergreen. Leaf fragrance.--None. Leaf
arrangement.--Alternate. Leaf length.--Average is .about.28 cm
(.about.22 cm to .about.34 cm). Leaf width.--Average is .about.11
cm (.about.8 cm to .about.17 cm). Rachis.--Length: Average is
.about.17 cm (.about.12 cm to .about.22 cm). Width: About 0.2 cm.
Color: Upper side Purple (RHS N77A), lower side Yellow-Green (RHS
144A). Texture: Glabrous. Leaflet.--Arrangement: Opposite with a
longer terminal leaflet. Number: 9 to 13 leaflets. Shape:
Lanceolate. Apex: Long acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Venation:
3-nerved. Margins: Infrequently serrulate with 6 to 9 teeth.
Sub-terminal leaflet length: Average is .about.7.3 cm (.about.5 cm
to .about.11 cm). Sub-terminal leaflet width: Average is .about.1.9
cm (.about.1 cm to .about.2.5 cm). Terminal leaflet length: Average
is .about.12.3 cm (.about.10 cm to .about.17 cm). Terminal leaflet
width: Average is .about.2.2 cm (.about.1.4 cm to .about.2.6 cm).
Color: Emerging foliage, upper and lower surface: Strong Purplish
Red (RHS 64C). Mature foliage, upper surface: Green (RHS 137A).
Mature foliage, lower surface: Yellow-Green (RHS 146C). Texture:
Glabrous. Attachment: Sessile. Leaf attachment.--Petiolate.
Petiole.--Length: Average is .about.1.4 cm (.about.0.7 cm to
.about.2.6 cm). Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: Yellow-Green (RHS
144A), both upper and lower surface. Texture: Glabrous.
Inflorescence: Description.--Single flowers arranged on terminal
racemes, opening from base to apex. Number of racemes per
terminal.--Average is .about.8 (4 to 12). Number of flowers per
raceme.--30 to 50. Flowering season.--October to March,
sporadically, in Mills River, N.C. Fragrance.--None.
Lastingness.--2 to 6 weeks. Inflorescence.--Length: Average is
.about.12.3 cm (.about.10 cm to .about.14 cm). Width: Average is
.about.1.8 cm (.about.1.5 cm to .about.2.0 cm). Flower.--Height:
Average is .about.0.5 cm (.about.0.5 cm to .about.0.6 cm).
Diameter: Average is .about.1.4 cm (.about.1.3 cm to .about.1.6
cm). Lastingness: 3 to 7 days. Bud.--Shape: Rounded. Diameter,
early stage: About 0.2 cm. Diameter, balloon stage: About 0.5 cm.
Color, early stage: Vivid Reddish Orange (RHS 42A) with some Vivid
Yellow (RHS 17C) and some Strong Reddish Purple (RHS 72B) towards
the base. Color, balloon stage: Vivid Reddish Orange (RHS 42A) with
increasing amounts of Vivid Yellow (RHS 17C) and some Strong
Reddish Purple (RHS 72B) towards the base. Texture: Glabrous.
Petals.--Number: 6. Arrangement: Whorled. Length: .about.0.5 cm.
Width: .about.0.3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.
Base: Truncate. Color: Yellow (RHS 8A). Texture: Glabrous.
Sepals.--Number: 9, consisting of 6 petaloid sepals and 3 true
sepals. Arrangement: Whorled. Petaloid sepals: Length: About 0.8
cm. Width: About 0.3 cm. Shape: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex:
Obtuse. Base: Rounded. Color, inner surface: Yellow (RHS 8B).
Color, outer surface: Yellow (RHS 8B) with some Vivid Reddish
Orange (RHS 42A). Texture: Glabrous. True sepals: Length: About 0.5
cm. Width: About 0.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.
Base: Rounded. Color: Strong Reddish Purple (RHS 72B) at tips and
Strong Purplish Red (RHS 63B) at base, both surfaces. Texture:
Glabrous. Peduncle.--Length: Average is .about.12.4 cm (.about.6 cm
to .about.15 cm). Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: Greyed-Red (RHS
181C). Texture: Glabrous. Pedicels.--Length: About 0.4 cm.
Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Color: Greyed-Red (RHS 181C). Texture:
Glabrous. Reproductive organs: Gynoecium.--Pistil number: 1. Pistil
length: .about.0.4 cm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color:
Green-Yellow (RHS 1D). Style length: .about.0.3 cm. Style color:
Green-Yellow (RHS 1D). Androecium.--Stamen number: 6. Stamen shape:
Linear. Stamen length: About 0.4 cm. Anther shape: Two-lobed.
Anther size: About 0.1 cm. Anther color: Yellow (RHS 7A). Amount of
pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Green-Yellow (RHS 1D). Fruit and
seed: Fruit type.--Berry. Shape: Ovoid. Length: Average is
.about.0.6 cm (.about.0.4 cm to .about.0.8 cm). Width: Average is
.about.0.4 cm (.about.0.3 cm to .about.0.7 cm). Color:
Greyed-Purple (RHS N186A). Texture: Glabrous, pruinose.
Seed.--Number: 1 to 2 per berry. Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 0.5
cm. Width: About 0.3 cm. Color: Yellow-Green (RHS 144C). Texture:
Glabrous. Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or
insect pests have been observed. Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone
7A; testing has not been completed in colder zones.
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL SPECIES
`NCMH2` is distinguished from Mahonia x media `Winter Sun` in that
`NCMH2` has multicolored flowers of red (RHS 42A) and yellow (RHS
8B), whereas Mahonia x media `Winter Sun` has yellow (RHS 7B)
flowers. `NCMH2` is distinguished from Mahonia `Soft Caress` (U.S.
Plant Pat. No. 20,183) in that `NCMH2` has wider evergreen
sub-terminal leaflets (about 1.9 cm in width) with reddish (RHS
64C) new growth, whereas Mahonia `Soft Caress` (U.S. Plant Pat. No.
20,183) has narrower evergreen subterminal leaflets (about 0.4 to
0.8 cm in width) and green (RHS 144A) leaflets. `NCMH2` also has
racemes of multicolored flowers, whereas M. `Soft Caress` has
yellow (RHS 8A) flowers.
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