USPP26515P2

USPP26515P2 - Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 340’

Info

Publication number: USPP26515P2
Application number: US14/121,248
Authority: US
Inventors: Josef Heuger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Volmary GmbH
Priority date: 2014-08-14
Filing date: 2014-08-14
Publication date: 2016-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-14

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 340’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; double-type inflorescences with dark red-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUN 340’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SUN 340’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Argyranthemum plants with attractive ray and disc floret colors and good garden performance and pest resistance.

The new Argyranthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2011 in Glandorf, Germany of two unnamed seedling selections of Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented. The new Argyranthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in July, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum plant by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in Glandorf, Germany in March, 2013. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Argyranthemum plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUN 340’ as a new and distinct Argyranthemum plant:

- 1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.
- 2. Freely branching habit.
- 3. Freely flowering habit.
- 4. Double-type inflorescences with dark red-colored ray florets.
- 5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in plant size and uniformity.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Percussion Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed from plants of ‘Percussion Red’ in the following characteristics:

- 1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum had double-type inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Percussion Red’ had semi-double-type inflorescences.
- 2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Argyranthemum and ‘Percussion Red’ differed in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Argyranthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. 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 Argyranthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUN 340’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘SUN 340’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Argyranthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 25 klux to 90 klux. Plants were pinched one time three to four weeks after planting and were 2.5 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens ‘SUN 340’.
Parentage:
- - Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented.
  - Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented.
Propagation:
- - Type.—Terminal cuttings.
  - Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 8 to 10 days at temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.
  - Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 15 days at temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.
  - Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 16 days at temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.
  - Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 to 20 days at temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.
  - Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, fibrous; white in color.
  - Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.
Plant description:
- - Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous; compact and uniform mounding plant habit; upright to broadly spreading form; moderately vigorous growth habit.
  - Branching habit.—Freely branching growth habit with about six lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy plant form; pinching enhances lateral branch development.
  - Plant height.—About 14.7 cm.
  - Plant width.—About 27.7 cm.
  - Lateral branches.—Length: About 8.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 9 mm. Strength: Strong; young stems, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145A; thin waxy cuticle, close to 193B to 193C.
Leaf description:
- - Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.
  - Length.—About 7.4 cm.
  - Width.—About 4 cm.
  - Shape.—Pinnatisect; in outline, obovate.
  - Apex.—Acute.
  - Base.—Cuneate.
  - Margin.—Pinnatifid; laciniate.
  - Sinuses.—Parallel to slightly convergent.
  - Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; slightly leathery.
  - Venation.—Pinnate.
  - Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between 137B and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between N137C and 147A; venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 138A.
Inflorescence description:
- - Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Double-type terminal and axillary inflorescences borne above and beyond the foliar plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.
  - Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 84 inflorescences develop per plant.
  - Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring to late summer in Germany; flowering continuous during this period.
  - Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.
  - Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.
  - Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Towards the base, close to 143B; mid-section, close to 199B to 199D; towards the apex, close to 145C.
  - Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.8 cm. Depth (height): About 1.9 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2.5 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 5 mm. Receptacle height: About 4 mm.
  - Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 80 arranged in multiple whorls. Length: About 1.3 cm to 1.9 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Oblong to elliptic and slightly obovate; slightly reflexed with development. Apex: Obtuse to shallowly retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N74D; towards the apex, close to 71C to 71D; towards the base, close to 64A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 64C; central band, close to 68B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 53A and 59B; color becoming closer to 71A with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 60C.
  - Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 200 massed at center of receptacle. Length: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter, apex: About 1.5 mm to 3 mm. Diameter, base: About 0.75 mm. Shape: Mostly tubular or lobes may be separate. Apex: Five-pointed; acute or obtuse. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature with five separate lobes: Base: Close to 145C to 145D. Mid-section: Close to 153D. Apex: Close to 12A; at very apex, close to 175B. Color, mature with five separate lobes: Base: Close to 145C. Mid-section: Close to 153D. Apex: Close to 12A; at very apex, close to 175B. Color, immature with one or two separate lobes: Base and mid-section: Close to 145B to 145C. Apex: Close to N74D. Color, mature with one or two separate lobes: Base: Close to 145C. Mid-section: Close to 145B. Apex: Close to 59A to 59B.
  - Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 24 arranged in two whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; margins, papery. Color, upper surface: Close to 144C; margins, close to 199D. Color, lower surface: Close to 143A; margins, close to 199D.
  - Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.9 cm. Length, fourth peduncle: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: Mostly erect to about 50° from vertical. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138B.
  - Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Filament length: About 1 mm. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 12A. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 12A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.
  - Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the new Argyranthemum.
Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Argyranthemum plants.
Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

Claims

It is claimed:

1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 340’ as illustrated and described.