Chrysanthemum plant named `Gedi Two Cop`

Abstract

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by a decorative-type inflorescence, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 42 days of short day length, free branching habit, purple ray florets, a very uniform round growth habit, and a large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Gedi Two Cop.`

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of hybridization of a female parent Chrysanthemum plant variety `Gedi One Car` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,794) and a male parent Chrysanthemum plant variety `Gedi One Gal` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,807). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor in September 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cutting and meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar `Gedi Two Cop` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Gedi Two Cop.` These characteristics in combination distinguish `Gedi Two Cop` as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

1. Decorative-type inflorescence,

2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 42 days of short day length,

3. Free branching habit,

4. Purple ray florets,

5. Very uniform round growth habit, and

6. Large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the female parent variety, `Gedi One Car` in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar bloom earlier, have fewer ray florets, and have a smaller diameter inflorescence than plants of the female parent variety.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the male parent variety, `Gedi One Gal` in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar have inflorescences of a different color, fewer ray florets, and a smaller diameter inflorescence than plants of the male parent variety.

In comparison to the commercially available variety `Cleargar VZP1` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,300), `Gedi Two Cop` blooms earlier and has fewer ray florets per inflorescence, ray florets without irregular lobes, and fewer disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The photograph shows a plant of `Gedi Two Cop` grown in a six-inch container. One cutting was used in the pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Oxnard, Calif. during the month of December and January. The age of the observed plants is 86 days from a rooted cutting. The growing temperature ranged from 55°C to 68°C F. at night to 60°C to 75°C F. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar `Gedi Two Cop`.

Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum

Parentage: Hybridization of a female parent Chrysanthemum plant variety, `Gedi One Car` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,794), and a male parent Chrysanthemum plant variety `Gedi One Gal` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,807)

PROPAGATION

Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21°C C.

Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.

Height: Approximately 19.5 cm.

Spread: Approximately 23 cm.

Growth rate: Moderate.

Branching characteristics: Free Branching.

Length of lateral branches: Approximately 20 cm.

Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 36.

FOLIAGE

Leaf:

Arrangement.--Alternate.

Average length.--Approximately 5.2 cm.

Average width.--Approximately 4.6 cm.

Shape of blade.--Ovate.

Apex.--Cuspidate.

Base.--Attenuate.

Attachment.--Stalked.

Margin.--Palmately lobed.

Texture of top surface.--Lightly pubescent.

Texture of bottom surface.--Lightly pubescent.

Color.--young foliage upper side: Near 139A. young foliage under side: Near 137B. mature foliage upper side: Near 139A. mature foliage under side: Near 137B. venation upper side: Near 138B. venation under side: Near 137D.

Venation type.--Palmately net.

Petiole:

Average length.--Approximately 2.6 cm.

Color.--Near 139B.

Diameter.--Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

Inflorescence:

Flowering habit.--Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5 hours, approximately 42 days of appropriate day length required to induce and develop blooms.

Inflorescence form.--Decorative.

Natural flowering season.--Approximately the middle two weeks of September.

Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.--Approximately 15.

Inflorescence diameter.--Approximately 4.6 cm.

Inflorescence depth.--Approximately 1.4 cm.

Inflorescence longevity on plant.--Approximately 27 days.

Persistence.--Persistent.

Ray florets:

Appearance.--Matte.

Texture.--Smooth.

Average number per flower.--140.

Shape.--Oblong.

Aspect.--Flat.

Margin.--Entire.

Apex.--Retuse.

Length.--Approximately 2.6 cm.

Width.--Approximately 0.5 cm.

Color.--upper surface at first opening: Near 73B. upper surface at maturity: Near 73B. upper surface at fading: Near 73B. under surface at first opening: Near 73C. under surface at maturity: Near 73C. under surface at fading: Near 73C.

Disc florets:

Appearance.--Shiny.

Texture.--Smooth.

Average number per flower.--Approximately 3.

Shape.--Cylindric.

Apex.--Obtuse.

Average length.--Approximately 0.4 cm.

Average width.--Approximately 0.1 cm.

Color.--at first opening: Near 7C. at maturity: Near 13A. at fading: Near 15A.

Peduncle:

Length.--at terminal end (shortest): Approximately 1.6 cm. at lateral end (longest): Approximately 7 cm.

Angle to stem.--Acute.

Strength.--Moderate.

Color.--Near 137C.

Habit.--Upright.

Diameter.--Approximately 0.2 cm.

Surface texture.--Lightly pubescent.

Inflorescence bud:

Length.--Approximately 0.6 cm.

Diameter.--Approximately 0.7 cm.

Form.--Globular.

Color.--Near 137D.

Involucral bracts (phyllaries):

Appearance.--Matte.

Texture.--Lightly pubescent.

Number.--Approximately 24.

Shape.--Oblanceolate.

Margin.--Entire.

Apex.--Acute.

Length.--Approximately 0.8 cm.

Width.--Approximately 0.4 cm.

Color.--upper side: Near 141A. under side: Near 141A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Ray florets:

Number of pistils per flower.--1.

Stigma shape.--2 branched.

Stigma color.--Near 5A.

Style color.--Near 154D.

Style length.--Approximately 0.3 cm.

Stamens.--Absent.

Disc florets (hermaphroditic):

Number of pistils per flower.--1.

Stigma shape.--Two-branched.

Stigma color.--Near 12B.

Style length.--Approximately 0.3 cm.

Style color.--Near 154C.

Number of stamens per flower.--5.

Anther shape.--Tubular.

Anther color.--Near 13A.

Pollen.--No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or observed in a stage wherein seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases and pests has been observed in this cultivar.

Heat and cold resistance: Plants with flowers are hardy to low temperatures about -2°C C. Non flowering plants are hardy in the approximate range of 3°C C. to -6°C C., depending upon duration of cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants are hardy to a high temperature of 49°C C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Gedi Two Cop` as herein illustrated and described.