USPP2591P - Loquat tree - Google Patents

Description

LOQUA'I. TREE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1964 INVENTOR. ALASTA/R R. M46 85 TH ATTORNEY Feb. 1, 1966 R ao H Plant Pat. 2,591

LOQUAT TREE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1964 INVENTOR ALASTA/R R. MAC BETH Y B W ATTORNEY United States Patent '0 2,591 'LOQUAT TREE Alastair R. MacBeth, Carlsbad,'Calif., assignor to Select Nurseries,- Wliittier, Calif., 21 corporation-of California Filed July 21,1964,-Ser. No. 384,272 1 Claim.- (Cl.-Plt.-33)

This invention relatestto a new and'distinct variety of loquat-tree;

;I discovered'thernew variety ofloquat growing :as a chance seedling among a group of cultivated loquat trees on, myproperty located -at15.l9 Chestnut Street in: the city of Carlsbad, county of San Diego, State iof California. This discovery was made by me in 1948. The pollen parent'ofthe new-variety is .unknown,.as isthe :name of the Eriobotrya japom'ca variety which "is :the ipresumed seed parent.

The new variety has been .asexually :produced by me on my property :in Carl's-bad,California and has also been reproduced asexuallyiin Whittier, California, primarily by grafting on an understock of seedliingof Eriobotrya jwpom'ca. A large number of-graftshave been made since the plant'was discovered and-in alllinstan'ces the descendants *have exhibited the distinguishing :characteristics of the new .variety, thus establishing that-the strain is true. Thus new variety cannot be reproduced true from seed.

The new and distinct variety is characterized .as to novelty particularly .by the .fact that the fruit is much larger than the fruit of other known species .of loquats the flesh of thefruit having-a very pleasing flavor'which can be .best describedas mild, and the vfruithas a mild acidity. The treeforms a rounded :dome-shaped crown, is spreading and presents=a bushy appearance. The leaves are large and can bev best describedas elliptic in form, having an acute apex with asubstantially attenuate base, The edges of the .leavesare serrate with teeth spaced quite a distance apart, some teeth being as much as apart. One particular characteristic observed inathe new variety that has not been observed :inany other varietyof loquat is that in each leaf, starting usually from the fifth vein from the tip of .the leaf-on the left hand side, when viewed from the upper side, said vein, instead of continuing as a single straight vein to the margin of athetleaf, splits to form a Y at a substantial distance from the margin with the diverging sides of the Y continuing to the margin. The same peculiarity appears less prominently on other veins below the fifth vein on the left hand side but has never been observed on any of the veins on the right hand side.

The accompanying illustrations, three in full color, show a fruit in cross section with some of its seeds exposed; a view of a typical flower cluster and leaves; and a view of a branch with leaves and mature fruit attached. The black and white photograph shows the general appearance of the tree, showing its bushy and spreading habits.

To facilitate identification of the important colors described, the terminology adopted by the British Horticultural Colour Charts has been adopted.

A detailed description of the new and distinct variety of loquat tree follows:

The tree Parentage: Chance seedling discovered among a group of loquat trees.

Habit: The tree has a rounded dome shaped crown and is generally spreading and bushy.

Height: The original tree was first discovered in 1948 and:

since that time it has reached a height of approximately fifteen feet. The crown is dome-shaped and the tree has a maximum overall diameter of about twenty feet. Thegeneral shape of the-tree is shown in the black "and white illustration. Trunk: The diameter of the trunk of the new variety varies between six and eight inches and the trunk is covered with. a smooth, dark grey bark.

Branches: The main branches of-the new variety of loquat .are husky and .a multitude of smaller branchesare present. The first branches on the trunk are approximately four feet from the ground and the skirt formed by these lower branches usually touches the-ground.

Foliage:

Texture.The leaves are-of average thickness, considering'their'large size, and are normally glossy.

Shape.-The leaves are substantially elliptic, having an acute apex'with the base attenuate. The margins of'the leaves are serrate with-the teeth generally widely spaced; sometimes the teeth are as much 215%," apart.

Arrangement.Theleaves are opposite.

Sim-Fully grown leaves vary from six to ten inches in length and vary from two to four inches in width at the widest portion of the leaf.

C0l0r.-The leaves are a brownish green color; the closest shade in the charts is Sage Greenooo861 "on the upper side. The underside of the leaves is slightly lighter than the top and is approximately Sage Green 000861/1.

Petioles.The petioles-are somewhat short, usually averaging A" in length.

Veins-The veins on the underside of the leaf are very prominent. The veins on the upper side of the leaf are-slightlylessprominent. The venation of the leaf is described-as pinnate. A particular characteristic of this new varietyof loquat is the unusual venation of the leaves; when these are viewed from the upper side, the fifth vein from the tip of the leaf on the left hand side'does notcontinue to the margin as asingle vein but instead ibranches'to form a Y'at a point a substantial distance from the margin with the two diverging legs of the Y proceeding to the margin, whereas the veins on the right hand side of the leaf usually continue as a single vein to the margin. This branching characteristic is also observed to a somewhat lesser degree on other veins on the left hand side that lie below the fifth vein. Vesture.The young leaves are highly tomentose on both the upper and lower surfaces and have a soft,

wooly hairyness that is more pronounced on the upper side. This hairy condition appears to diminish as the leaf matures and fully developed leaves show practically no hairy covering. Rachis.The leaves have rachides.

The flower The new variety of loquat blooms profusely in the fall of the year commencing in the latter part of October or the first portion of November.

Duratin.-The flowers remain on the stems about two weeks.

Penaloids.None.

Peduncle.The peduncle is sturdy and is approximately 7 in length. 5

Texture.The flowers have a leathery texture.

Appearance.The flowers have a velvety appearance. The blooms are not appreciably affected by hot or wet weather.

Persistance.The flowers hang on to the stem and 10 dry out eventually.

Fragrance.The fragrance of the flowers is very slight.

Bud:

Form-The buds are round and are best described as globular. Size-The buds are about A" in diameter and have a depth of about Opening.The buds open slowly. v Color.When the sepals first divide, the buds are pale yellow. At the time the petals begin to unfurl, the color is pale yellow. 5 Sepals.The sepals are hooded over the bud. Color:

inside-pale yellow; outside-pale yellow. Calyx.Shape-the calyx is funnel shaped; it does not split. Aspectthe calyx is hairy. Pednncle.The penduncle of the bud is A5" in length. Aspect-the peduncle is hairy and it is erect. Colorthe color of the peduncle is light yellow.

Genital organs Stamens, anthers:

Arrangement.-Bunched. Length-W in length. Number.-Usually 20.

Filaments:

Length-Approximately long. C0l0r.Light yellow.

Pollen: Color-light yellow.

Pistils:

N umber.Five in number. Length.About H Stigma: Color-pale green.

Ovaries: Shapethe ovaries are small and oval shaped. 45

The fruit Size: The fruit is large, being roughly two inches long and about one and one-half inches in diameter.

Texture: The meat of the fruit has a texture that resembles an apricot or peach.

Color of meat: The principal portion of the flesh of the fruit is light colored and is best identified as Peach 512/3. The intermediate color of the flesh which ap pears in streaks and spots in the fruit is best identified as Chrome Yellow 605/2. The darker portions of the flesh are Buttercup Yellow 5/2.

Borne: The fruits are borne in clusters of from three to eight and are supported by stems that vary from A to /1" in length. The stems are heavy being approximately A1 in diameter. The stems come substantially directly out of the skin of the fruit and do not have any appreciable indentation at the point where the stem leaves the fruit.

Skin:

Texture.The skin is smooth and tough, somewhat resembling a sapota.

Color.The skin is best described as predominantly Saffron Yellow 7/2.

Seeds: The fruits carry from two to four seeds which are relatively small in size when compared to other varieties of loquat. "Colorthe seeds are a medium dark brown in color.

Taste and flavor: The fruit is very juicy, has a low acidity and is very palatable and pleasing to the taste.

Having described my invention, I claim:

The new and distinct variety of loquat tree substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the large juicy fruit borne in clusters on husky stems and having a fleshy portion resembling an apricot or peach in texture and having a flavor that is very palatable, the acidity of said fruit being low, and by its large serrate leaves that exhibit a unique venation wherein the fifth vein from the tip of the leaf on the left hand side, when viewed from the upper side of the leaf, instead of continuing to the margin as a single vein, divides to form a Y at a substantial distance from the margin, this Y shaped venation characteristic occurring less prominently on other veins on the left hand side of the leaf that are below said fifth vein but not being present on the veins of the right hand side of the leaf.

No references cited.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

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