Lilium named `Montreux, alba`
An all white clone of the known Asiatic lily cultivar `Montreux`. The new white clone has creamy "off white" color tepalage with a blush of pink in the nectary zone of the tepals. `Montreux, alba` bears upright flowers from a tightly formed racemose inflorescence (meaning there is often only a few cm between first and second flower pedicel.) The secondary flowers are in a more loose formation. The bud shape and flower form are identical to the parent plant `Montreux`. The white clone should be particularly valuable because of its superior stem strength and bud retention during the winter months under natural light conditions in greenhouse forced production. By comparison, there are few or no white Asiatics that will perform well in the darker months without the addition of high intensity discharge lighting to prevent bud abortion. Like its parent, `Montreux, alba` exhibits excellent long bud form, thick petals and good vase life as a cut flower. It is particularly good for sleeving and shipping because the pedicels are non-brittle. The flowers sit flat when opened compared to other varieties and do not recurve which is often a sign of perishability. The new variety bears all the positive propagation characteristics of its parent, not the least of which is the ability to produce a relatively high bud count from a comparatively small (10-12 cm or 12-14 cm) bulb. The parent plant, `Montreux`, because of its qualities of bud count, virus and insect resistance, has been in commercial cultivation for years. The bulbs are significantly whitish in appearance, more so than `Montreaux`, and are suitable for precooling for greenhouse forced cut flower production. The variety displays good overall vigor and will force in nine (summer) to twelve (fall, winter, and spring) weeks under average to greenhouse conditions. The longest forcing time is 14 weeks under low light and cool 55F conditions. The variety displays good overall excellence of form, color, and habit.
This sport was first discovered as a severed cut flower in the greenhouses at Connecticut Cut Flower at 40 Vanderpoel Avenue. Bantam Conn. 06750 in February of 1989. It occurred as a white sport among a block of 400 pink Montreaux lilies.
The embryo of the severed stem was sent off to a tissue culture lab where it was replicated and returned to Connecticut Cut Flower for further forcing.
Upon first blooming numerous of the tissue culture bulbs had reverted to the original pink Montreux parent. This helped to confirm that we were not propagating an already known commercial variety that had occurred as a rogue among a batch of Montreux bulbs.
By rogueing out the reverted bulbs and working with the stable ones, we isolated a block that will produce the mutation consistently.
Successive generations produced by bulb scale propagation and by natural propagation from bulblets in Bantam, Conn. have demonstrated that the novel and distinctive characteristics of my new variety are fixed and hold true under asexual propagation from generation to generation.
The variety generously produces axillary bulbils when flowers have been severed and these also maybe used as propagules.
The applicant is also inter-breeding the white Montreux with other varieties now in the hope of producing a purer white of similar characteristics for later patenting.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGAccompanying photographs have been provided showing the pink blush at the base of the white tepalage which may vary slightly in degree from bulb to bulb or fade in degree as successive flowers open on a plant from the same bulb. The first two flowers to open will show a greater degree of pink blush.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETYThe following is a detailed description of my new variety of Asiatic hybrid lily with nomenclature according to the International Lily Register of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England, Third Edition, 1982, compiled by A. C. Leslie, and with color designation according to the R.H.S. of London Colour Chart, first published by The Royal Horticultural Society in 1966 in association with the Flower Council of Holland in Leiden.
The PlantAn average of 10 representative plants was used to obtain the statistical data obtained below.
Origin: Sport.
Parentage: Montreux sport.
Classification:
Horticultural.--Upright Asiatic Hybrid Lily, Division I-A according to the International Lily Register of Royal Horticultural Society of London, England, third Edition, 1982, compiled by A. C. Leslie.
Form: Single stem, tall, erect and stately.
Height: Average is 93.4 cm. On stems produced under greenhouse forcing conditions from bulbs of about 12-14 cm. in circumference with adequate light levels (early Spring forcing at 58 degrees F.).
Growth: Vigorous and upright.
Foliage:
Quantity.--Abundant.
Leaf size.--Averaging 1.13 cm. in width and 9.9 cm. in length.
Leaf shape.--Lanceolate with acumiante tip.
Texture.--Leathery.
Aspect.--Glossy with minimal pubescence.
Color.--Dark green, lighter on the lower side.
The BudForm: Long ovoid and obtuse.
Size: Average 7.8 cm. in length and 6.75 cm. In circumference.
Opening rate: The buds open slowly, usually one flower on the first day, and successive flowers the following day.
Color: Yellow-white RHC 158A, yellow RHC 8D, and yellow RHC 11D are the closest matching colors. See attached research by Dr. Richard McAvoy, University of Connecticut.
Peduncle:
Length.--Average 9.1 cm.
Color.--Dark green.
The FlowerBlooming habit: Once annually, outdoor habit has not yet been observed.
Size: The flowers are medium sized, averaging 14.5 cm. In diameter.
Borne: As a single tightly formed racemose (meaning there is often only a few cm. Between first and second flower pedical.) The secondary flowers are in a more loose formation. The shape and flower form are identical to the parent plant. Montreux, producing 5-7 buds from a 12-14 cm. bulb.
Shape: Flowers open flat with little recurving on successive days.
Tepalage:
Number.--Six.
Length.--Average 8.1 cm. Width average 2.9 cm.
Arrangement.--Hexagonal and imbricated.
Shape.--Ovate with entire margins and with an acute tip.
Appearance.--Not glossy.
Color.--The base color is white--most closely matched by RHC 158A, RHC 11D and RHC 8 D. The lack of a broad selection of white color chips is a hindrance in the identification. The blush area (extends about 2 cm. from the nectaries and most closely resembles Red RHC 36A and 36 B on the samples we observed.
Tepal spotting.--The basal third of each tepal is marked with inconspicuous deep maroon spots, extending just above the nectaries. These spots extend up to 1 cm beyond the nectaries.
Tepal longevity.--The tepals stay on the stem in good condition for 7 days summer, and 10-14 days winter. Outdoor conditions have not been observed.
Pedicel.--Length: Average 7.6 cm. Form: Sturdy and ascending up to 4 degrees from the horizontal. Color: Dark green.
Fragance.--None.
Disease resistance.--The variety is resistant to virus and aphids.
Lasting quality.--Flowers are long lasting both on the plant and as cut flower.
The Reproductive OrgansStamens:
Number.--Six.
Length.--Average 6.0 cm.
Arrangement.--Typical of the genus Lillium.
Anthers.--Length average 1.1 cm.
Pollen:
Color.--At the closed stage of anther development the color most closely resembled Brown RHC 200C, Brown RHC 200D and Brown RHC 200B. At the open stage of anther development the color also resembled Grayed-Orange RHC 165 A, as well as Brown RHC 200B and Brown RHC 200A.
Filaments.--Length: Averge 6.0 cm. Color: White.
Pistils:
Number.--One.
Length.--Average 5.6 cm.
Stigma:
Size.--Average 4.48 cm.
Color.--Pale green.
Style.--Size: 4.4 mm. Color: Soft brown on green background.
Character of ovary: Typical of genus Lillium.
Fertility.--The fruit is fertile.
Shape.--Ovoid.
Immature color.--Green.
Color at maturity.--Soft brown to tan.
Comparison of the color of the oriental hybrid lily cultivar `Montreaux` to two samples of a `Montreaux, alba` sportThe lily cultivar Montreaux has a tepal basal color that lied between the greyed-purple and greyed-red groups of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (see Tables below). CIELAB cordinates show Montreaux to have a basal hue angle of 9.445, with a chroma of 31.99 and a L-value of 56.38. The tepals of Montreaux have a blush color between the greyed-purple and red groups of the RHC chart. The CIELAB calculated hue angle of the blush is similar to the basal hue angle but the L-value is lower and the chroma is higher.
Two samples of the sport `Montreaux, alba` have a significantly different basal and blush color from `Montreaux`. These selections--samples 1 and 2--have a basal color between the RHC yellow-white and yellow groups (see tables below). The CIELAB hue angle ranges from 97.73 to 101.9 for these samples, and the chromas range from 18.81 to 19.63, and the L-values range from 86.79 to 87.67.
The blush color of the `Montreaux, alba` sport is closest to the RHC orange and red groups. The two samples are essentially identical to each other. Unlike `Montreaux`, the hue angle of the blush on this sport is greatly different from the basal color.
The anthers of the two samples of the `Montreaux, alba` sport are both similar in color. The RHC color is in the brown group for closed anthers and between the greyed-orange and brown groups for open anthers. The anthers of these samples were dark, displaying a relatively low chroma and L-value.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
L-Value, Hue angle and Chroma for the basal color and blush of
tepals from the oriental lily cultivar `Montreaux` and two samples of
a `Montreaux, alba` sport. (values in parentheses represent standard
error of the mean).
Cultivar or Sport
L-Value Hue angle (H.degree.)
Chroma (C*)
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Tepal Basal Color
Montreaux 56.38 (0.93) 9.445
(1.36)
31.99
(1.06)
Montreaux Alba
87.67 (0.45) 101.9
(0.67)
19.63
(0.22)
Sample 1
Montreaux Alba
86.79 (0.55) 97.73
(1.48)
18.81
(0.36)
Sample 2
Tepal Blush Color
Montreaux 50.18 (0.66) 10.73
(0.70)
43.6 (2.23)
Montreaux Alba
78.89 (0.68) 68.02
(1.86)
19.53
(0.35)
Sample 1
Montreaux Alba
78.06 (0.67) 62.85
(2.23)
19.77
(0.36)
Sample 2
Athers of Montreaux
Alba selections
Opened 30.34 (0.81) 30.51
(3.48)
13.42
(0.58)
Closed 36.4 (0.20) 45.60
(0.68)
14.19
(0.31)
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TABLE 2
______________________________________
Color comparison of the cultivar Montreaux to two samples of a
Montreaux alba sport using .DELTA.E, .DELTA.Hue, and L-value,
and Chroma differences.
Montreaux
Tepal basal color
Tepal blush color
Alba L .DELTA.
C* L .DELTA.
C*
selection
.DELTA.E
diff. Hue diff.
.DELTA.E
diff.
Hue diff.
______________________________________
Sample 1
49.42 -31.3 -36.21
12.36
46.76
-28.7
-27.98
24.07
Sample 2
47.6 -30.4 -34.17
13.16
44.84
-27.9
-25.79
23.83
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TABLE 3
______________________________________
Comparison of the basal color of the cultivar Montreaux and two
samples of a Montreaux alba sport with the Royal Horticultural
Society Colour Chart standards using .DELTA.E, .DELTA.H.degree., and the
difference
L-value and Chroma differences.
Cultivar
Closest matching color
RHS chip values
or sport
group and RHS color chip
L-Value Hue angle
Chroma
______________________________________
Montreaux
Greyed-Purple RHC 185D
56.4 5.73 37.1
Greyed-Red RHC 181C
53 22.16 35.5
Greyed-Purple RHC 184D
48.9 10.21 37.8
Montreaux
Yellow-White RHC 158A
89.2 93.64 22.04
Alba Yellow RHC 11D 94.2 99.87 18.68
Sample 1
Yellow 8D 94 101.9 23.2
Montreaux
Yellow-White RHC 158A
89.2 93.64 22.04
Alba Yellow RHC 11D 94.2 99.87 18.68
Sample 2
Yellow RHC 8D 94 101.9 23.2
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Lily color v.
RHS color chip differences
Cultivar
Closest matching color
.DELTA.E-
L- .DELTA.Hue
or sport
group and RHS color chip
value value
angle Chroma
______________________________________
Montreaux
Greyed-Purple RHC 185D
5.56 -0.02
2.2352
-5.09
Greyed-Red RHC 181C
8.92 3.38 -7.467
-3.53
Greyed-Purple RHC 184D
9.48 7.48 -0.464
-5.8
Montreaux
Yellow-White RHC 158A
4.147 -1.53
3.0085
-2.41
Alba Yellow RHC 11D 6.636 -6.53
0.6911
0.958
Sample 1
Yellow 8D 7.286 -6.33
-0.002
-3.57
Montreaux
Yellow-White RHC 158A
4.287 -2.41
1.4527
-3.23
Alba Yellow RHC 11D 7.444 -7.41
-0.699
0.135
Sample 2
Yellow RHC 8D 8.58 -7.21
-1.535
-4.39
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TABLE 4
______________________________________
Comparison of the tepal blush color of the cultivar Montreaux and two
samples of a Montreaux alba sport with the Royal Horticultural Society
Colour Chart standards using .DELTA.E, .DELTA.H.degree., and the
difference
L-value and Chroma differences.
Cultivar
Closest matching color
RHS chip values
or sport
group and RHS color chip
L-Value Hue angle
Chroma
______________________________________
Montreaux
Greyed-Purple RHC 184D
48.9 10.21 37.8
Greyed-Purple RHC 185C
47.9 10.1 37.07
Red RHC 54A 54.4 9.5 50.29
Montreaux
Red RHC 36B 85.3 47.06 15.71
Alba Red RHC 36A 84.4 45.36 22.49
Sample 1
Orange 27A 88.1 70.36 24.1
Montreaux
Red RHC 36A 84.4 45.36 22.49
Alba Red RHC 36B 85.3 47.06 15.71
Sample 2
Orange RHC 29D 89 61.06 19.43
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Lily color v.
RHS color chip differences
Cultivar
Closest matching color
.DELTA.E-
L- .DELTA.Hue
or sport
group and RHS color chip
value value
angle Chroma
______________________________________
Montreaux
Greyed-Purple RHC 184D
5.955 1.28 0.3704
5.804
Greyed-Purple RHC 185C
6.93 2.28 0.4457
6.529
Red RHC 54A 7.971 -4.22
1.0076
-6.69
Montreaux
Red RHC 36B 9.812 -6.41
6.3701
3.822
Alba Red RHC 36A 10.26 -5.51
8.2335
-2.96
Sample 1
Orange 27A 10.32 -9.21
-0.887
-4.57
Montreaux
Red RHC 36A 9.346 -6.34
6.4114
-2.72
Alba Red RHC 36B 9.609 -7.24
4.84002
4.06
Sample 2
Orange RHC 29D 10.96 -10.9
0.6127
0.342
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TABLE 5
______________________________________
Comparison of the anther color of a Montreaux alba sport with the
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart standards using
.DELTA.E, .DELTA.H.degree., and the difference L-value and Chroma
differences.
Stage of
Anther Closest matching color
RHS chip values
development
group and RHS color chip
L-Value Hue angle
Chroma
______________________________________
Opened Brown RHC 200B 33.2 39.523 10.37
Greyed-Orange RHC 165A
40.4 49.022 18.15
Brown RHC 200A 30.2 26.928 7.066
Closed Brown RHC 200C 35.6 47.49 11.4
Brown RHC 200D 40 50.29 16.12
Brown RHC 200B 33.2 39.52 10.37
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Lily color v.
Stage of
Closest matching
RHS color chip differences
Anther color group and
.DELTA.E-
L- .DELTA.Hue
development
RHS color chip
value value angle Chroma
______________________________________
Opened Brown RHC 200B
4.466 -2.86 -1.748
2.951
Greyed-Orange RHC
5.691 -10.1 -4.872
-4.82
165A
Brown RHC 200A
6.295 0.14 0.6883
6.256
Closed Brown RHC 200C
2.942 0.83 -0.426
2.79
Brown RHC 200D
4.247 -3.57 -1.244
-1.93
Brown RHC 200B
5.129 3.23 1.2799
3.814
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This new lily variety most closely resembles the variety `Montreaux` in every way except that it is white, with a pink blush reminiscent of its parentage displayed in the zone of the nectaries, and most evident on the first two flowers that open. The bulb is more notably white in appearance.
Claims
1. A new distinctive Asiatic hybrid lily plant, as shown herein and described containing valuable characteristics of stem strength and bud retenton, particularly for a white lily to be forced under greenhouse conditions of reduced light during winter months, without the aid of high intensity discharge (HID) lighting.
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 12, 1997
Date of Patent: Jul 14, 1998
Inventor: John Creedon (Bantam, CT)
Primary Examiner: Elizabeth C. Kemmerer
Application Number: 8/798,084
International Classification: A01H 500;
