Chrysanthemum plant named `Papiro`

Abstract

A new plant variety of chrysanthemum producing flowers with white ray florets and orange disc florets.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum morifolium. The varietal denomination of the new chrysanthemum is `PAPIRO`.

The new variety is a cross of `Scorpio` (believed to be unpatented) as seed parent and `Tripoli` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,207) as pollen parent. The new variety has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Ventura County, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

`PAPIRO` is a chrysanthemum plant that produces flowers with white ray florets and orange disc florets.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

`PAPIRO` differs from its parent `Scorpio` in having larger flowers and from its parent `Tripoli` in having white ray florets whereas the parent has purple ray florets.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER VARIETIES

The following is a comparison to the commercial varieties `GEDI WT8` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,648), `Pidoul` and `Empire Aspen` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,885):

	`GEDI			`Empire
	WT8`	`PAPIRO`	`Pidoul`	Aspen`
Inflorescence	4.5 cm	6 cm	2.5 to 3 cm	5 cm
Diameter
Ray Floret	Near 158D	Near 155D	Near 155D	Near 155D
coloration
when mature
Quantity of	About 30	Between	About 30	Between
Ray florets		50 to 60		45 to 50
Quantity of	About 12	About 15	Between	About 8
Inflorescence			12 to 15
per stem
Height	About	About	Between	About
	18 cm	23 cm	25 to 30 cm	20 cm
Natural	Early	End of	Mid-September	First week
Season	October	September		of September
Bloom
General	`PAPIRO`		`PAPIRO` has	`PAPIRO`
Commercial	has pure		larger ray	has a larger
Comparison	white ray		florets and	number of
	florets		longer lasting	inflorescence
	and longer		inflorescence	and a much
	lasting			more flexible
	inflorescence			plant form

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photograph shows a typical specimen of the plant and flowers of the new variety with colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following description of the new variety is of specimens grown in a greenhouse in Ventura County, Calif. The age of the described plant is approximately 120 days old from a rooted cutting. `PAPIRO` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length and cultural conditions. The color designations herein are from The Royal Horticutural Society Colour Chart except where general terms are used.

To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once about ten days after planting. No growth retardant has been applied in the specimens described. Useful growing conditions include average night temperatures of about 17°C C. to 20°C C. and average day temperatures of about 20°C C. to 30°C C. No susceptibility or resistance to disease has been observed. Resistance or susceptibility to insects has not been observed. Seed production has not been observed. Winter hardiness and drought/heat tolerance have not been observed.

ROOTING CHARACTERISTICS

Time to initiate roots: About 7 to 14 days at about 21°C C.

Root Description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

Plant type: Herbaceous perennial.

Growth habit: Mounding.

Size: Length about 23 cm, width about 25 cm.

Growth rate: Moderate.

Branching characteristics: Very free branching, lateral branches are about 20 cm in length, 0.5 cm in diameter and near 138C in color.

FOLIAGE

Arrangement: Alternate.

Compound or Simple: Simple.

Quantity of leaves: Many.

Leaf size:

Length.--About 6 cm.

Width.--About 4 cm.

Leaf shape: Ovate.

Leaf tip: Acuminate.

Leaf base: Attenuate.

Leaf attachment: Stalked.

Petiole: Length about 2 cm, diameter about 0.3 cm, color near 137C.

Margin type: Serrate.

Texture: Lightly pubescent.

Color:

Young foliage upper side.--Near 138A.

Young foliage under side.--Near 138B.

Mature foliage upper side.--Near 137A.

Mature foliage under side.--Near 138B.

Venation: Net.

Color.--Venation upper side: Near 137C. Venation under side: Near 137D.

BLOOM

Inflorescence:

Flowering habit.--Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5 hours. Approximately 50 days of day length required to induce and develop blooms.

Inflorescence form.--Daisy.

Natural flowering season.--Around the last week in September and early October in Ventura County, Calif.

Quantity of inflorescences per stem.--About 15.

Length.--About 1 cm.

Width.--About 0.1 cm.

Color.--First opening: Near 23A. Mature: Near 23B. Fading: Near 24B.

Peduncle:

Length.--Terminal, shortest: About 4 cm. Lateral, longest: About 8 cm.

Diameter.--About 0.3 cm.

Color.--Near 138A.

Strength.--Moderate.

Habit.--Erect.

Inflorescence bud:

Length.--About 1 cm.

Diameter.--About 1 cm.

Form or shape.--Globular.

Color.--Near 18D.

Involucral bracts: Length about 0.7 cm, width about 0.4 cm.

Appearance.--Matte.

Texture.--Lightly pubescent.

Number.--About 20 to 30.

Shape.--Ovate.

Margin.--Entire.

Tip.--Acute.

Color.--Upper side: Near 138A. Under side: Near 138A.

Inflorescence diameter.--About 6 cm.

Inflorescence depth.--About 2 cm.

Disc diameter.--About 2 cm.

Inflorescence longevity on plant.--About 18 to 22 days.

Persistence.--Persistent.

Ray florets:

Appearance.--Matte.

Texture.--Smooth.

Number.--About 50 to 60.

Shape.--Oblanceolate.

Margin.--Entire.

Pistil.--Length about 0.8 cm.

Tip.--Obtuse.

Length.--About 2 cm.

Width.--About 1 cm.

Color.--Upper side: First opening: Near 13D. Mature: Near 155D. Fading: Near 155D. Under side: First opening: Near 18D. Mature: Near 155D. Fading: Near 155D.

Disc florets:

Appearance.--Shiny.

Texture.--Smooth.

Number.--Over 200.

Shape.--Cylindric.

Pistil.--Length about 0.5 cm.

Tip.--Obtuse.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Ray florets:

Pistillate.--Pistil number: 1 per flower. Stigma shape: 2 branched. Stigma color: Near 7D. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Near 6D.

Disc florets:

Pistillate.--Pistil number: 1 per flower. Stigma shape: Cylindric. Style length: About 0.8 cm.

Staminate.--Stamen number: About 5. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color: Near 16A. Pollen color: Near 20A.

Claims

1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant of the variety substantially as herein shown and described.