USPP3426P - African violet plant - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent O 3 426 AFRICAN v'roLET PLANT Arnold W. Fischer, lsernhagen, Germany, assignor to Geo. J. Ball, West Chicago, lll. Filed Jan. 24, 1972, Sel'. No. 220,508 Int. CL A01h 5/ 00 U.S. Cl. Plh-69 l Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A new variety of African violet plant distinguished by the medium to large size of its delicate pink flowers which are carried on short peduncles branching from relatively long flower stalks which tend to spread laterally above relatively large, almost circular leaves carried on long, horizontally extending petioles to provide a sharply contrasting background for a bunched mass of the flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This new variety of African violet plant originated as a seedling developed by me at Isernhagen, Germany, where I have been Conducting the culture and breeding of African violets for the purpose of developing improved varieties of the plants for the commercial market. The objects of my breeding efforts are to develop African violet plants which are more hardy and grow more vigorously and which blossom more profusely with attractive and pleasing colors. This variety was selected for test because of the delicate pink color of its blooms and the relatively low and spreading growth habit which appeared to display the blooms in a very attractive manner. Asexual propagation of this new variety under my direction, by means of leaf cuttings, at Isernhagen, Germany, has shown this plant to retain all of its original distictive characteristics and to do so from generation to generation. Commercial propagation of this new variety is now being carried on at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A., by means of leaf cuttings and division of shoots.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING This new variety of African violet plant is illustrated by the accompanying drawing which shows the form and color characteristics of the plant and its blooms and foilage, the color rendition being as nearly tme as is reasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT The following is a detailed description of my new variety of African violet plant with color identification according to the Horticultural Colour Chart published by the Britsh Colour Council in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The plant Origin: Seedling Parentage: Seed parent.-A double pink (unnamed and unpatented) Pollen parent.-A single pink (unnamed and unpatented) Classification: Botanic-Saintpaulia ionantha Commercial .--African violet Form: Compact potted plant (rosette arrangement) Height: 21/2 inches from base to top of flowers when in full bloom Growth: Condensed and compact, fairly strong and tending to spread horizontally Foliage:

Quantity.-abundant Size of leaf.-2 to 2%6 inches long by 2 to 2% inches wide Plant Pat. 3,426

Patented Jan. 8, 1974 ICC Shape of leaf.-Almost round with crenate margins Texrure.-Leathery and tough Aspect.--Very tomentose Vez'ns.-Pinnate and very pronounced on under side.

Veins do not connect at the leaf edges Color. Upper side-Ivy Green 0001060. Under side-Maroon 1030/ 3 Pertama-1% to 2% inches long The bud The flower Blooming habit: Profusely and recurrent the year around with a tendency to bloom early Size of flower: Variable but most are medium to large Diamerer.--l to 1% inches Depth-Mostly fiat but many up to 5/3 inch Borne: In cluster at end of flower stalk Shape: Very open cup-shaped when bloom first opens changing to almost liat Petalage: Number of petals-S, 3 noticeably larger than remaining 2 Arrangement.-Sympetalous Form.-Rotate and bilaterally symmetrical with smooth edges Calon- Face side-Petunia Purple 32/ 1. Reverse side-Mauve 633 T exturafioft Appearance.--Slightly shiny on top side, very tomentose on under side Peduncle: 1/4 inch to l/2 inch long for each flower at end of stalk, 1% inches to 2 inches long from base to penduncle Strength-Flexible and tends to be more horizontal than upright Calon-Maroon 1030 Discoloration after full bloom: Color fades greatly Effect of temperature: Hot environment fades flowers and suppressed flowering. Plant thrives in mild temperature and to relative humidity. Fragrance: Very faint Lasting quality: 10 to 14 days from flower opening Persistence: Blossoms hang on and dry on the stalk Reproductive organs Stamens:

Anthers. Arrangement-basifixed. 2 in number, each 1,56 inch long and composed of 2 anther cells which give the appearance of 4 anthers in each `blossom Filaments-/m inch to M: inch long. Color-Sap Green 62/2 3 Pollen calon-White Pistils: One in number, inch long Stigrrias: Color-Mauve 633/ 1 Styles: 5,56 inch long and Mauve 633/ 1 in color Ovaries: Superior and tornentose with a yellow ring at the base of ovary The principal distinctions of this new variety of African violet plant are to be found in the distinctive display of the medium large flowers which vary in form from hell-shaped to su'bstantially flat and Which are borne on very short peduncles at the end of a relatively long stalk. The plant is also distinguished by the arrangement of its foliage with almost round leaves carried on very long petioles which project the leaves horizontally outward leaving the center of the plant occupied by the mass of flowers which in overall aspect presents a relatively low but wide spreading display. This plant is more vigorous than its parents with abundant foliage and profuse production of blossoms.

I claim:

1. This new variety of African violet plant, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by its ibundant foilage and relatively large lea-ves of almost mund shape carried on long petioles, by the extraordinary range of flower shapes which vary from hell-shape to substantially flat, and by the very short flower peduncles carried on an outwardly-inclined lower stalk.

No references cited.

ROBERT E. BAGWILL, Primary Examiner

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