USPP3393P - Poinsettia plant - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1973 P. ECKE. JR Plant 3,393

POINSETTIA PLANT Filed March 50. 1972 3,393 POINSETTIA PLANT Paul Ecke, Jr., Encinitas, Calif., assignor to Paul Ranch Ecke, Encinitas, Calif. Filed Mar. 30, 1972, Ser. No. 239,832 Int. Cl. A01h /00 U.S. Cl. Plt.-86 1 Claim The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbz'a pulcherrima, which was discovered by me as a cultivated sport of the poinsettia variety known as Annette Hegg (Plant Pat. No. 2,962), said discovery having been made by me in one of my greenhouses located at Encinitas, Calif.

At the time of my discovery aforesaid, I was growing in my greenhouses at Encinitas, various poinsettia varieties, including many plants of the patented variety Annette Hegg. In the course of these growing operations, my attention was attracted to one particular plant among those of Annette Hegg which bore bracts of creamy white color, with pink areas superimposed on the central areas of the bracts and extending laterally from the midribs in bands terminating short of the marginal edges of the bracts, while creating a marbled efiect as compared to the normal red bracts of Annette Hegg. Close inspection of this particular plant showed that it had sported, so I carefully preserved the sport and kept it under close observation. In due course, I asexually reproduced the sport by vegetative cuttings taken therefrom and planted in my greenhouses at Encinitas. Continned observations and tests of the original sport and its progeny derived from the vegetative cuttings aforesaid, fully confirmed that the marbled pink on white bracts come true and remain stable.

Except for its bract color, my new sport is substantially identical with its parent variety Annette Hegg, and thus constitutes a new and commercially valuable variety which is distinguished from all other poinsettia varieties, as evidenced by the following unique combination of prncipal features which are outstanding therein:

( 1) A short-growing and compact plant habit;

(2) A uniform and fast rooting habit;

(3) A self-branching habit resulting in multiple blooms without pinching off the terminal buds as required for other poinsettia varieties;

(4) Attractive green foliage of lighter color than the foliage of such varieties as Paul Mikkelsen (Plant Pat. No. 2,328);

(5) A distinctive and attractive pink on white marbled bract color; and

(6) Long-lasting plant qualities.

The accompanying drawing shows a typical specimen plant of my new poinsettia variety as depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

Although the details of my new sport, except for its bract color, are generally similar to those described in Plant Pat. No. 2,962, to which reference may be readily had, the following brief description of the new sport is given for convenience, with color terminology in accordance with Wilsons Horticultural Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are obvious:

United States Patent 0 "Ice Plant Pat. 3,393 Patented Aug. 21, 1973 Parentage: Sport of Annette Hegg.

Propagation: Holds it's distinguishing characteristics through succeeding propagations by vegetative cuttings.

Locality where grown and observed: Encinitas, Calif.

Form: Short-growing; compact.

Habit of growth: Self-branching; does not require pinching oft terminal buds to produce multiple blooms.

Rooting habit: Very uniform; very fast. Blooming habit: More predictable than other varieties, and is normally considered as a 9-week variety. Blooming season: Blooms predictably in time for Christmas season and well beyond through at least the month of April; is also a good variety for flowering in spring, summer and autumn.

Foliage:

Shape.-Normal; most typical leaves are more ovateacuminate and only seldom lobed.

Color.-New foilage-upper side-Pod Green, Plate 061; under side-Pod Green, Plate 061/1. Old foliageupper side-Spinach Green, Plate 0960; under sideSpinach Green, Plate 0960/2.

Bracts:

Shape.Ob0vate; relatively broad.

Color.--Creamy white, with pink areas superimposed thereon and ranging from near Phlox Pink, Plate 625/2 to near Vermillion, Plate 18/3, with the pink areas appearing as bands extending laterally from the mid-ribs of the bracts, but terminating short of the margins.

Flowers (Cyathia): Form earlier and are more numerous and stronger than those of Paul Mikkelsen; have a strong yellow pollen; very slight tendency to split; do not drop oif prematurely and last as long as the bracts.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.Quite numerous; from about 4; inch to inch long. Color-Currant Red, Plate 821/2. Pollen.ColorCanary Yellow, Plate 2. Szyles.-ColorBlood Red, Plate 820. Ovaries.-Color-Scheeles Green, Plate 860/1. Nectar cups.-ColorLemon Yellow, Plate 4/1. General observations: The new variety generally resembles the variety Annette Hegg in all respects, except for the bract color which is marbled in appearance by pink areas superimposed on a creamy white background.

I claim:

1. A new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of a short-growing and compact plant habit, a uniform and fast rooting habit, a self-branching habit resulting in multiple blooms without pinching off the terminal buds as required for other poinsettia varieties, attractive green foliage of lighter color than the foliage of such varieties as Paul Mikkelsen (Plant Pat. No. 2,328), a distinctive and attractive pink on white marbled bract color, and long-lasting plant qualities.

No references cited.

ROBERT E. BAGWILL, Primary Examiner

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