USPP3436P - African violet plant - Google Patents

Description

Jan; 15, 1974 w, gc g Plant Pat. 3,435

AFRICAN VIOLET PLANT Filed Jan. 24, 1972 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A new variety of African violet plant distinguished by the very deep violet color of its blossoms, which bloom recurrently the year around, its uniform and heavy flow- 'ering habit and its very abundant foliage.

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 for the potted plant market. This new plant was selected for test because of the deep violet color of its blooms and the upstanding growth of the flower stalks which hold the blossoms in compact group well above the foliage. Asexual propagation of this plant under my direction and by means of leaf cuttings, at Isernhagen, Germany, demonstrated the plant to retain all of its original and distinctive characteristics from generation to generation and because of its vigorous growth and attractive display of the blooms of unusual color, this new plant was selected for propagation on a commercial scale. Commercial propagation is now being carried on at West Chicago, 111., U.S.A., by means of leaf cuttings and division of shoots.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING My 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, the color rendition being as nearly true as is reasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures. The upper view shows details of the blossoms and the manner in which they are borne on the flower stalk and the lower view shows the entire plant in full bloom. The color patches A and B show the true colors of the top and under sides, respectively, of the flower petals.

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

The plant Origin: Seedling Parentage:

Seed parent-A Saintpaulz'a ionantha of unknown origin Pollen parent.-Blaues Maerchen (unpatented) Classification:

Botanic.Saintpaulia ionantha Cmmercz'al.African violet Form: Compact potted plant (rosette arrangement) Height: To 3% inches from base to top of flowers Growth: Condensed and vigorous, sturdy with tendency to be clumpy Foliage: Quantity-abundant Size of leaf.-Up to 2 inches in diameter Shape of leaf.-Generally cordate with crenate margins United States Patent 0 Plant Pat. 3,436 Patented Jan. 15, 1974 Texture.Very leathery and tough Aspect.-Shiny and very tomentose Veinsr- Pinnate and very pronounced on under side.

Veins connect at leaf edges.

Colon-Upper side'Ivy Green 0001060/3. Under side-Magnolia Purple 030/ 1 with Agatha Green 60/3 Petiolesafil A to 1% inches for older leaves The bud Form: Pear-shaped, rounded just before opening Size: Fairly small. 05 to A inch in diameter and inch in depth Opening: Very slowly (5 weeks from visible bud to opened flower) Color: When petals unfurlVictoria Violet 738 Sepals: Hooded over bud for a very short time Forms.-Sepals stand up and are spear-shaped C0lor.-InsideSage Green 000861. Outside-Sage Green 000861 Calyx:

Shape-Splits to star shape with five sepals Size.-Small compared to petal size Aspect.--Very tomentose Peduncle:

Length.1 to 1% inches from base to branching.

Branches $5 to inch long. Strength.Sturdy but flexible Aspect.-Very tomentose C0l0r.Maroon 1030 The flower Blooming habit: Recurrent the year around with a tendency to bloom early Size of Flower:

Medium.--Varies with age of plant Diameter.-% to 1% inches Depth-T0 inch Borne: In cluster on each primary peduncle Shape: Very open cup-shaped when bloom first opens changing to wide open, flatter cup Petalage: Number of petals-5, 3 noticeably larger than remaining 2 Arrangement: Smypetalous Form: Rotate and bilaterally symmetrical Color:

Face side.-Victoria Violet 738 Reverse side.-Victoria Violet 738/ 3 Texture: Soft and flexible Appearance: Velvety and smooth-tomentose on reverse or underside Peduncle: 1 to 1% inches from base to branching.

Branches-Z5 to inch long Strength-Sturdy and fairly upright C0l0r.-Maroon 1030 Discoloration after full bloom: Color becomes darker Effect of weather: Hot environment suppresses flowering and fades flower color, to relative humidity most favorable Fragrance: None Lasting quality: 10 to 14 days for full opened flower Persistance: Blossoms hang on and dry on the stalk Reproductive organs Stamens:

Anthers.-Arrangement-basifixed; 2 in number, each 5 inch long and composed of 2 anther cells Filaments.--Single filament inch long. Color Victoria Violet 738 surrounding Citron. Green 763/3 Pollen.Color-White Pistils; One in number inch long Stigmas: Color-Victoria Violet 738 Style: inch long and Victoria White 738 in color Ovaries: Superior and tomentose, yellow color appears below ovary The principal advantages of this new variety of African violet plant are to be found in the distinctive form of the unusually dark violet color. The plant grows vigorously with heavy and uniform flowering and produces abundant 4 oliage, although plantlet production from cut leaf propagation is low compared to other varieties.

I claim:

1. A new variety of African violet plant, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by the deep violet color and open-cup shape of its flowers, its year around blooming habit and the upstanding display of the blooms.

No references cited.

ROBERT E. BAGWILL, Primary Examiner

Images