USPP24144P3

USPP24144P3 - Hydrangea plant named ‘BC6.8’

Info

Publication number: USPP24144P3
Application number: US13/135,035
Authority: US
Inventors: Harrison M. Higaki
Original assignee: Bay City Flower Co Inc
Current assignee: Syngenta Flowers LLC
Priority date: 2011-06-23
Filing date: 2011-06-23
Publication date: 2014-01-07
Also published as: US20120331602P1

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) named ‘BC6.8’ originated as a controlled cross between varieties. The cultivar ‘BC6.8’ can be blue or red depending on the acidity of the soil and the presence of aluminum. The variety ‘BC6.8’ has relatively compact, attractive inflorescences with relatively large sepalous florets, distinct sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics. When grown in the presence of aluminum, the sepals are R.H.S. 71 A (red-purple group).

Description

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BC6.8’.

Variety denomination: ‘BC6.8’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BC6.8’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented variety known as ‘LK49’ which was the seed parent and a commercial variety known as ‘Venedig’ to the inventor which may be the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928 and registered as ‘Venice Raven’. ‘Venedig’ was the pollen parent. ‘LK49’ is relatively compact plant with wiry stems, relatively small leaves, relatively small sepalous florets, and inflorescences that are resistant to being damaged by conditions in commercial coolers.

The variety ‘BC6.8’ has compact, attractive inflorescences, relatively large sepalous florets, uniform sepal pigmentation at maturity and good commercial characteristics. The variety ‘BC6.8’ has pigmented sepals, and can be grown in soil conditions treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation, as is described here. The color of the sepals changes as the plant ages. Below is a table comparing the new variety to similar varieties.

TABLE 1

		Currently		Commerical
		Patent		variety ‘Venedig’
		Pending	U.S. Plant	which may be
		Variety	Pat. No.	U.S. Plant Pat.
	New Variety	‘BC6.1’	18,593	No. 10,928
	‘BC6.8’	13/135,028	‘True Blue’	‘Venice Raven’

Leaf size	9 cm ×	12 cm wide ×	Unknown	11 cm wide ×
	13 cm	15 cm long		15.5 cm long-
				source U.S.
				Plant Pat.
				No. 10,928
Plant	13″ in 6″	15″ in 6″ pot.	Unknown	12″ in 6″ pot-
height	pot.			observed
				controls grown
				alongside new
				variety.
Stem	Strong	Stems are	Strong	Strong -
strength		strong but		observed
		benefit from		controls grown
		being staked		alongside new
				variety
Sepal	Both sides	Upper side of	Both sides of	Upper side of
Pigmen-	of sepals are	sepals is R.H.S.	sepalsa are	sepals is R.H.S.
tation	R.H.S. 71 A	86 A (violet	R.H.S. 100 D	84 A (violet
	(red-purple	group); Under	(blue group).	group). Under
	group).	side of sepals		side of sepals is
		is R.H.S. 88 D		R.H.S. 85 A
		(violet group)		(violet group)
				observed
				controls grown
				alongside new
				variety.
Sepalous	70 mm	60 mm to 70	50 mm to 60	70 mm-
Floret		mm	mm	observed
Size				controls grown
				alongside new
				variety

The new cultivar ‘BC6.8’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘BC6.8’ remains firmly fixed through three generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the base of the stem.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the upperside of a panicle of the new variety.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the center of a panicle of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plant shown in the figures is approximately a year old. The plant started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant. The cuttings were placed in a pot and the soil was periodically treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. The plant was pinched early to promote lateral branches.

‘BC6.8’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, in association with the Flower Council of Holland, located in Lieden.

THE PLANT

Origin: Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented variety known as ‘LK49’ which was the seed parent and the commercial variety known to the inventor as ‘Venedig’ and which may be ‘Venice Raven’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928, which was the pollen parent.
Form: Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 13″ high and has a diameter of 18″ when grown in a 6″ pot with appropriate soil amendments.
Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in appearance and form to the main stems.
Stems: Lenticels are present. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A (violet group) and are 1 to 2 mm long. The surface of young stems is glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S. 144 A (green group). The older portions of the stems are R.H.S. 199 A (grey-brown group) Younger portions of the stems are 5 to 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the stems are 5 to 7 mm in diameter.
Foliage: Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral branches.
- - Shape of leaf.—Elliptic with acute base and apex. Margins are serrate.
  - Texture.—Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the upper leaf surface.
  - Color.—Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group), and an under side that is R.H.S. 138 B (green group). Leaves are pinnately veined. The midvein and veins branching off the midvein are large and prominent on the underside of the leaves. Veins are R.H.S. 133 B (yellow-green group). Leaves are as wide as 9 cm and 13 cm long. Petioles are smooth and approximately 2.0 cm long and 4 mm wide. Petioles are R.H.S. 133 B (yellow-green group).

BUDS

Form: Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals. Most buds, whether they will mature into sepalous or non-sepalous florets, have 4 petals. Buds in the center of the inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds will develop into sepalous florets. They are approximately 1 mm by 1 mm when very young. Buds can be 4 mm in diameter and still unopened. Color of mature buds is R.H.S. 100 A (blue group).
Aspect: Smooth.
Arrangement: Borne on branched panicles.

INFLORESCENCE

Form: Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 100 individual flowers (florets) per inflorescence. Both sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets borne on the same panicle. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The peduncle for the inflorescence is strong and upright. Very few non-sepalous florets developing early on cymes that are later hidden by sepalous florets. Florets, both sepalous and non-sepalous, have anthers and style. Inflorescences are long-lasting, up to six weeks.
Size of inflorescence: Compact and globose. Individual inflorescence size is dependent on the number of florets. A typical inflorescence can grow as large as 8″ in diameter, and 5″ high.
Shape: Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.
Appearance: Showy.

FLORETS

General: The non-sepalous florets at the center of the inflorescence open first. Sepalous and non-sepalous florets are perfect and complete. Corolla: Generally, for both sepalous and non-sepalous florets there are 4 petals which fall off as flower matures. Petals are typically 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Petals are R.H.S. 92 A (violet-blue group). Lenticels are present on pedicels, lenticels are no more than 1 mm long. Lenticels are R.H.S. 59 B (red-purple group). Pedicel length for non-sepalous florets averages 4 mm. Pedicel length of sepalous florets is approximately 30 to 35 mm in length for plants of this age. Pedicels of both sepalous and non-sepalous florets continue to elongate as the inflorescence ages. Pedicels can be 68 B (red-purple group), R.H.S. 71 A (red-purple group), or R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group) near floret when immature.
Stamens: 8 to 10 stamens. Filament is approximately 6 to 7 mm long. Filament is R.H.S. 76 D (purple group). Anther is 1 mm long and is regular and basally attached.
Stigma: Two to three style each, although most florets have two style. Each style has one stigma. Style is typically 1 mm long. Style is R.H.S. 71 A (red-purple group). Stigma is R.H.S. 76 D (purple group).
Ovary: Ovary is partially inferior.
Sepalous florets:
- - General.—Veins dominate on the underside of the sepals.
  - Number of sepals.—4 or 5 sepals per floret, usually 4.
  - Aspect of sepals.—Smooth and glaucescent.
  - Shape of sepals.—Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire, but with some crenation.
  - Size of sepals.—As the florets mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are typically 4.2 cm long and 4.8 cm wide. Flowers are typically 7 cm in diameter. The uppersides of the sepals are R.H.S. 71 A (red-purple group) and the undersides are the same. Pigmentation develops at the tips of the sepals and travels inward towards base of the sepals.
Fruit: None.
Disease and pest resistance: Unknown.

Claims

I claim:

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘BC6.8’ substantially as herein shown and described.