USPP406P - Begonia - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1940. TRAVER Plant Pat. 406

BEGONIA Filed Jan. 26, 1939 PLANT PAT ENT AGENT Patented June 25, 1940 Plant Pat. 406

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEGONIA Harold E. Traver, Woodbury, Conn.

Application January 26, 1939, Serial No. 252,960

1 Claim. (01. 47--60) My new variety of begonia is of the winter Leaves.--Shapepalmately veined; almost flowering hybrid type and is a sport of Melior. round except for a deep lobe at the base. It was discovered by me in my greenhouses in E qS-u lu ate W th b oad se on (Ionnecticut several years ago. I had some app ox y crenate- Appearance- 5. Melior begonias in flower atChristmas time and smoo and g ossy- Ribs less Pronounced carried the plants over until spring. When than usual in begon s Of this im these same plants began to make their new e-Va y n $iZe,1&reSt about 5 t0 6 growth in the spring, I noticed that the leaves inches across. Avera s a ou t same on one of the branches were somewhat different sizes as Melior, its parent- C lorpp r m from the old type Melior so I propagated cuttings Surface Dark Cress Green (Plate XXXI) from this branch. Asexual reproduction since wit C ss G een (Plate XX Veining that time has shown the characteristics to be d fi e Splotches ShadingS Veins firmly fixed. on under surface are Light Cress Green The varieties known to me which are most like Pl e XXXI). Intervenous section on this new variety are its parent and Lady Mac, nder su is Light Cress Green tinged the latter also a sport of Melior. It differs from and considerably ove la d W p these two varieties in many respects, particularly rinthian Red (Plate XXVII) t0 POmpeian in that the new variety has double flowers of 18 Red ate XIII)v Frequently the edges to 28 petals while the other varieties have only are likewise tinged With the Same p 20 single flowers of 4 petals. The scarlet color of Corinthian Red to Pompeian Red. Tea:-

the double blossoms, the dark green of the folitum-heavyage, and the compactness of growth combine to S 8ifl S a n Shoots make an especially handsome Christmas plant. arise directly from the root CFOWII and The flowers retain their brilliant color until they lateral o s break from theSB- D-- drop off, and the foliage is perpetually a dark tionally heavy- C0l07'Rainette G een glossy green. (Plate XXXI), with reddish brown tinge,

This new variety is a very vigorous grower approximately Ochre Red (Plate XV and does exceptionally well after being pinched Etruscan Red (Plate XXVII) 011 back. Its many blossoms are evenly spread over $1111? p 3|) the entire plant throughout the blooming season. f ,8im8-Chry501ite green (Plate XXXI).

The original illustrations accompanying this With a tendency on mature leaves o have application show a. section taken from a fulla reddish Overlay which is pp y grown plant of the new variety, and they depict Ochre R801 to Etruscan Red late the buds, blossoms, stems and leaves in approxi- XXVID- mately their true size and colors. There is a glossiness of the natural leaves and flowers which cannot be shown by water colors, however. A mature plant is composed of many of these main branches issuing from the crown growth which 40 forms at the end of the rooted leaf-stem cutting.

Following is a detailed description of this new variety of begonia. Color plate references are to Ridgways Color Standards and Nomenclature.

Where any colors are given without plate references, the ordinary dictionary term is intended.

The plant Growth: Growth is very clean, sturdy and heavy.

The flower Bud:

Colon-Scarlet Red (Plate 1). Shape.Flattened; somewhat heartshaped. Flower: All male, so far as known; double;

sterile.

Size.1% to 2 inches in diameter. Petalage.18 to 28 petals. At the beginning of the blooming season the flowers are semi-double, but when the plant is fully developed the flowers are very double. This is a natural trait and requires no special cultivation to produce it. PetaZscoZo'rScarlet (Plate I). As the opened Blooming: Blooms abundantly from October 15 to January 15 or later, depending upon when the cuttings are taken.

Foliage: Abundant; overlapping.

Pedioels.-Chrysolite Green (Plate XXXI),

with a slight reddish overlay approximately Ochre Red to Etruscan Red (Plate XXVII).

Bracts.Two small reddish bracts are found at the base of each pedicel. When the blossom falls, the bracts remain and have the appearance of tiny leaves.

Stamens.Entirely lacking.

Comparison with M elior and Lady M as The begonia varieties known to me. which are most like my new variety are Melior and Lady Mac. There are a number of differences, the principal ones being given below,

1. The blossoms of my new variety are double while those of Melior are single.

2. The blossoms of my new variety are sterile, which is not true of Melior.

3. The blossoms of my new variety are scarlet and those of Melior are pink.

4. The blossoms of my new variety are larger than those of Melior.

5. The leaves of my variety are of heavier texture.

6. Edges of the leaves of my new variety are undulate with broad serrations while those of Melior are merely serrate.

'7. The leaves of my variety are darker in color and the veining is less pronounced.

8. Growth of my variety is cleaner, sturdier and heavier.

9. The main shoots of my variety are heavier.

10. Both main and lateral shoots of my new variety show on the mature plants a reddish tinge from Etruscan Red (Plate XXVII) to Pompeian Red (Plate XIII), whereas those of Melior show no reddish tinge.

Since Lady Mac is like Melior in all but color, the above comparison will also apply as a comparison between my new variety and Lady Mac.

Having thus disclosed my discovery, I claim:

A new and distinct variety of winter-blooming begonia plant of the Melior type, characterized particularly by its glossy, dark green, heavy-

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