USPP24441P3 - Eucalyptus tree named ‘G5’ - Google Patents

Abstract

A new Eucalyptus grandis tree particularly distinguished by having a fast growth rate, average frost tolerance, and good coppicing properties, is disclosed.

Description

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT

This invention was supported in part by funds from the U.S. Government pursuant to Grant No. FLA-FOR-04168 from USDA CSREES. The U.S. Government therefore has certain rights in the invention.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Eucalyptus grandis.

Variety denomination: ‘G5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Eucalyptus, botanically known as Eucalyptus grandis, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘G5’. It is characterized by having a fast growth rate, average frost tolerance, and good coppicing properties when grown under normal forestry practices in southern Florida.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘G5’ originated from over 1,600 seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis. ‘G5’ is the result of open-pollination in a fourth-generation seedling seed orchard at Palmdale, Fla. The female (seed) parent of ‘G5’ is the proprietary Eucalyptus grandis seedling selection with the identification number ‘3242’, not patented, characterized by its fast growth and average frost tolerance. The male (pollen) parent of ‘G5’ is unknown. The maternal parent (‘3242’) originated from open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of ‘3242’ is the proprietary Eucalyptus grandis seedling selection with the identification number ‘1065’, not patented, characterized by its good growth and acceptable frost tolerance. The male (pollen) parent of ‘3242’ is unknown. ‘G5’ was selected as a single tree from the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during March 2004.

‘G5’ was first propagated in June of 2008 in Apopka, Fla. through cuttings and in vitro propagation. Asexually propagated trees of ‘G5’ have remained true to the original selected tree, and all characteristics of the tree have been transmitted and retained through three successive asexual vegetative generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for. ‘G5’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

‘G5’ differs from the female parent ‘3242’ by having faster growth, better frost tolerance, and good coppicing properties.

Commercial varieties: E.nergy™ series eucalyptus cultivars ‘G1’, ‘G2’, ‘G3’, and ‘G4’ may be compared with eucalyptus cultivar ‘G5’ (see Table 1).

TABLE 1
Comparison of Eucalyptus grandis Cultivars
‘G1’, ‘G2’, ‘G3’, ‘G4’, and ‘G5’

Cultivar

	G1a	G2a	G3a
Tree:
Size: Height (m)	12.6	~15	~16
Size: DBH (Diam-
eter in cm at 4.5′)
Size: Spread (m)	~4	~3	~3
Vigor:	Average	Good	Good
Density:	Open	Open	Open
Form (overall	Good	Good	Good
shape of tree):
Growth habit	Evergreen	Evergreen	Evergreen
(current season):
Trunk and
Branches:
Trunk texture: top	Smooth	Smooth	Smoother
Trunk texture: base	Rough	Smooth	Smooth
Trunk upper bark	Mottled grey-	Mottled grey,	Mottled grey,
color:	brown	brown, green	brown, green
Trunk lower bark	Mottled grey-	Mottled grey,	Mottled grey,
color:	brown	brown, green	brown, green
Branch texture:	Glabrous	Glabrous	Glabrous
Branch color:	Green	Green	Green, Reddish
Leaves:
Size (lamina aver-	10-20	10-20	10-16
age): Length (cm)
Size (lamina aver-	1.5-3.0	1.5-2.5	1.5-2.5
age): Width (cm)
Type:	Simple, petiolate,	Simple, peti-	Simple, petiolate,
	alternate,	olate, alternate,	alternate,
	persistent	persistent	persistent
Shape:	Narrow	Narrow	Narrow
	lanceolate,	lanceolate,	lanceolate,
	slightly sickle	slightly sickle	slightly sickle
	shaped	shaped	shaped
Apex:	Acuminate	Acuminate	Acuminate
Base:	Acute, can be	Acute, can be	Acute, can be
	slightly	slightly	slightly
	unequilateral	unequilateral	unequilateral
Margin:	Smooth	Smooth, Wavy	Smooth, Wavy
Surface texture:	Glabrous	Glabrous	Glabrous
Upper
Surface texture:	Glabrous	Glabrous	Glabrous
Lower
Color: Upper	Dark green (RHS	Green (RHS	Green (RHS
	Green group	Green group	Green group
	126C)	126C)	136B)
Color: Lower	Light green	Green (RHS	Green (RHS
	(RHS Green	Green group	Green group
	group 124B)	127B)	136C)
Petiole: Shape	Slightly	Slightly	Slightly
	flattened,	flattened,	flattened,
	groove at top	groove at top	groove at top
Petiole: Length	1.5-2.5	1.5-2.0	1.5-2.5
(cm)
Petiole: Width	1-2	1-2	1-2
(mm)
Petiole: Upper	Pale green (RHS	Pale green	Pale green
Color	Yellow-Green	(RHS Yellow-	(RHS Yellow-
	group 144D)	Green group	Green group
		144D)	144D)
Petiole: Lower	Pale green (RHS	Pale green	Pale green
Color	Yellow-Green	(RHS Yellow-	(RHS Yellow-
	group 144D)	Green group	Green group
		144D)	144D)
Petiole: Texture	Smooth	Smooth	Smooth
Flowers:
Age at First	2+	2+	2+
Flowering: (years)
Flower Fragrance:	Mild	Mild	Mild
Flower Type:	Clustered	Clustered	Clustered
Flower	7	7	7
Buds/Cluster:
Stamen: Number	Many	Many	Many
Anther Filament:	<1	~1	~1
Length (cm)
Anther: Color	White	White	White
Pistil: Number	1	1	1
Pistil: Length (cm)	<1	<1	<1
Bloom Season	mid-July-	late July-mid-	mid-August-
	October	September	late-October
Reproductive
Organs:
Fruit/seed (if
produced):
Capsules/Cluster	3-7	3-7	3-7
Capsule: Size	5-7 × 5-6	5-7 × 5-6	5-7 × 5-6
(mm)
Capsule: Shape	Pyriform	Pyriform	Pyriform
Capsule: Texture	Smooth Woody	Smooth Woody	Smooth Woody
Capsule: Color	Green-brown	Green-brown	Green-brown
Capsule Stalk:	Short	Short	Short
Length
Resistance/toler-
ance to
Diseases/pests:
Blue Gum Chalcid	No	Yes	Yes
Coppice:
Ability	High	High	High
Stems/Stool	3-5	1-2	3-5

Cultivar

	G4a	G5b
Tree:
Size: Height (m)	~16	~15.4
Size: DBH (Diameter		18.3
in cm at 4.5′)
Size: Spread (m)	~3	~3
Vigor:	Good	Good
Density:	Open	Open
Form (overall shape of	Good	Straight Stem, Slightly
tree):		Drooping Branches
Growth habit	Evergreen	Evergreen
(current season):
Trunk and Branches:
Trunk texture: top	Smoother	Smooth
Trunk texture: base	Smooth	rough
Trunk upper bark	Mottled grey, pink	Moderate yellow
color:		(RHS 161A) to Pale
		green (RHS 160C)
Trunk lower bark	Mottled grey, pink	Grayish reddish
color:		orange (RHS 176D to
		RHS 177D)
Branch texture:	Glabrous	Glabrous
Branch color:	Grey, Reddish	Moderate yellow
		(RHS 160A)
Leaves:
Size (lamina average):	10-15	13-13.5
Length (cm)
Size (lamina average):	2	4.2-5.0
Width (cm)
Type:	Simple, petiolate,	Simple, petiolate,
	alternate, persistent	alternate, persistent
Shape:	Narrow lanceolate,	Lanceolate, slightly
	slightly sickle shaped	sickle shaped, slightly
		offcenter midrib
Apex:	Acuminate	Acuminate
Base:	Typically acute, can	Acute, can be slightly
	be slightly unequi-	unequilateral
	lateral, slightly
	offcenter midrib
Margin:	Smooth, Wavy	Smooth
Surface texture: Upper	Glabrous	glabrous
Surface texture: Lower	Glabrous	glabrous
Color: Upper	Green	Strong yellow green
		(RHS 143A)
Color: Lower	Pale Green	Strong yellow green
		(RHS 143C)
Petiole: Shape	Slightly flattened	Slightly flattened
	groove at top
Petiole: Length (cm)	1-2	1.5-2.5
Petiole: Width (mm)	1-2	1-2
Petiole: Upper Color	Light green-Pink	Deep orangish yellow
		(RHS 163A)
Petiole: Lower Color	Light green-Pink	Deep orangish yellow
		(RHS 163C)
Petiole: Texture	Smooth	Smooth
Flowers:		Not Observed
Age at First Flowering:	2+	4+
(years)
Flower Fragrance:	Mild	Not Observed
Flower Type:	Clustered	Not Observed
Flower Buds/Cluster:	7	Not Observed
Stamen: Number	Many	Not Observed
Anther Filament:	~1	Not Observed
Length (cm)
Anther: Color	White	Not Observed
Pistil: Number	1	Not Observed
Pistil: Length (cm)	<1	Not Observed
Bloom Season	mid-September-	Not Observed
	late-October
Reproductive Organs:		Not Observed
Fruit/seed (if		Not Observed
produced):
Capsules/Cluster	3-7	Not Observed
Capsule: Size (mm)	5-7 × 5-8	Not Observed
Capsule: Shape	Pyriform	Not Observed
Capsule: Texture	Smooth Woody	Not Observed
Capsule: Color	Green-brown	Not Observed
Capsule Stalk: Length	Short	Not Observed
Resistance/tolerance
to Diseases/pests:
Blue Gum Chalcid	Yes	Yes
Coppice:
Ability	High	Not Observed
Stems/Stool	3-5	Not Observed
a13-year-old trees near Ft Meade, FL, and 2-year-old trees near Winter Garden, FL.
b4.2-year-old trees near Winter Garden, FL.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new eucalyptus tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the tree's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of trees approximately 2 to 3.5-years old.

FIG. 1. Shows overall plant habit including foliage of a 3.5-year-old tree.

FIG. 2. Shows overall plant habit including foliage of 2-year-old trees.

FIG. 3. Shows a close-up of the bark of a 3.5-year-old tree.

FIG. 4. Shows a close-up of the bark of a 2-year-old tree.

FIG. 5. Shows upper branches of a 3.5-year-old tree.

FIG. 6. Shows mature leaves of a 2-year-old tree.

FIG. 7. Shows a close-up of mature leaves of a 2-year-old tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘G5’. The present botanical description is that of 2-year-old trees growing near Winter Garden, Fla. The colors (except those in common terms) are described from R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (second edition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland.

Phenotypic Description of Eucalyptus grandis var. ‘G5’

• Classification:
  • • Botanical.—Eucalyptus grandis var. ‘G5’.
    • Common name.—Eucalyptus.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—‘3242’, not patented.
    • Male parent.—Unknown.
• Tree:
  • • Size.—Height — ˜10 m, Spread — ˜3 m.
    • Vigor.—Average.
    • Density.—Open.
    • Form (overall shape of tree).—Straight stem with slightly drooping branches.
    • Growth habit (current season).—Evergreen.
• Trunk and branches:
  • • Trunk diameter.—18.3 cm at 4.5 feet above the ground.
    • Trunk texture.—Smooth at top, rough at base.
    • Trunk upper bark color.—Moderate yellow (RHS 161A) to Pale green (RHS 160C).
    • Trunk lower bark color.—Grayish reddish orange (RHS 176D to RHS 177D).
    • Branch texture.—Glabrous.
    • Branch color.—Moderate yellow (RHS 160A).
• Leaves:
  • • Size (lamina average).—Length — 10-14 cm, Width 2.0-3.5 cm.
    • Type.—Simple, petiolate, alternate, persistent.
    • Shape.—Lanceolate, slightly sickle shaped, slightly off-center midrib.
    • Apex.—Acuminate.
    • Base.—Acute, can be slightly unequilateral.
    • Margin.—Smooth.
    • Surface texture.—Upper — glabrous, Lower — glabrous.
    • Color.—Upper — RHS 132B (Strong green), Lower — RHS 124B (Light green).
    • Petiole.—Shape: Slightly flattened. Length: 1.5-2.5 cm. Width: 1-2 mm. Color: RHS 11D (Pale yellow). Texture: Smooth.
• Flowers: No flowering has been observed.
• Reproductive organs: No organs observed.
• Fruit/seed (if produced): No fruit/seed observed.
• Resistance/tolerance to diseases/pests: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Claims (1)

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct variety of Eucalyptus grandis tree as shown and described herein.

Images