USPP28237P2 - Lantana plant named ‘Balucred’ - Google Patents

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balucred’, characterized by its dark red-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balucred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balucred’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during September 2013. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars with early and continuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a compact-mounded growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection coded 2095, not patented, characterized by its dark red-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during April 2014 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balucred’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

• • 1. Dark red-colored inflorescences;
  • 2. Dark green-colored foliage; and
  • 3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit. In the population of potential male parents there was none having all the characteristics of the plant of the new cultivar.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Lucky Flame ‘Balucraim’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucraim’ in at least the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker red-colored inflorescences than plants of ‘Balucraim’; and
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar are more vigorous than plants of ‘Balucraim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balucred’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balucred’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balucred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in December 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

• Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar ‘Balucred’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection coded 2095, not patented.
    • Male parent.—Unknown.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
    • Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.
    • Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28 days.
    • Root description.—Fibrous.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.
    • Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded.
    • Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 11.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.
    • Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant: Approximately 3.
    • Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong, becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 13.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 2.7 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of mature stem: 144A becoming woody N199A with age.
• Foliage description:
  • • General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.
    • Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower surface: Scabrous and glandular pubescence along venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 147C to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 191A with venation of 147D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: closest to 137A with 139A, venation of 147C to indistinguishable.
    • Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.
• Flowering description:
  • • Flowering habit.—‘Balucred’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.
    • Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer buds to dropping of last flower.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.7 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 24.
    • Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.
• Flower description:
  • • General description.—Type: Salverform.
    • Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in progression from the margin to the center of the inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 4.
    • Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at apex. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: 23C.
    • Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm.
    • Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals. Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first open: 15A with an overlay of N25A. Color of lower surface when first open: 15D with an irregular overlay of N25A on margins. Color of upper surface when fully open: N25A with 34A transitioning with age to 34A with 45A. Color of lower surface when fully open: N25D transitioning with age to 34D.
    • Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at tube opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs at tube opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Gland color: 45A. Color of inner surface: 11A. Color of outer surface: 145D.
    • Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.5 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces: 145D.
    • Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape: Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface: 137A with 145A at base. Color of lower surface: 137B with 145A at base.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm. Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 13D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 144B, translucent. Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 145D, translucent. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144B.
• Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
• Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Lantana has not been observed.

Claims (1)

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balucred’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

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