Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Pink`

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Pink`, characterized by its upright and spreading growth habit; freely branching plant habit; numerous large inflorescences that when mature have light pink ray florets that fade to white; and erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant, botanically known as Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid and referred to by the cultivar name `Jumbo Misty Pink`.

The new Brachycome was discovered by the Inventor in a group of seedling progeny from a cross of unidentified selections of Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid in an outdoor area in Wandin North, Victoria, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new Brachycome by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Wandin North, Victoria, Australia, has shown that the unique features of this new Brachycome are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Brachycome 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 characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of `Jumbo Misty Pink` and distinguish `Jumbo Misty Pink` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and spreading growth habit.

2. Freely branching plant habit.

3. Numerous large inflorescences that when mature have light pink ray florets that fade to white.

4. Erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Brachycome, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of `Jumbo Misty Pink`.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of `Jumbo Misty Pink`. Floret and foliage colors in the photographs may appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisons describe plants grown in Victoria, Australia, under outdoor conditions with day temperatures ranging from 12 to 40.degree. C., night temperatures ranging from 6 to 25.degree. C., and light levels ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 footcandles. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid cultivar `Jumbo Misty Pink`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Unidentified selection of Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid.

Female or seed parent.--Unidentified selection of Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid.

Propagation:

Type.--By cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.--Summer: About 10 to 20 days at temperatures of 25.degree. C. Winter: About 15 to 30 days at temperatures of 20.degree. C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright and spreading, rounded herbaceous plant with erect peduncles. Suitable for 15 to 20-cm containers. To produce a 15-cm finished flowering plant from rooted cuttings, 10 to 14 weeks are required depending on temperature and light level.

Plant height.--About 30 to 50 cm from soil level to top of inflorescences.

Plant diameter or spread.--About 30 to 50 cm.

Branching.--Freely branching, numerous lateral branches develop after removal (pinching) of the terminal apex.

Growth rate/vigor.--Moderate.

Stem description.--Lateral branch length: About 1.5 to 8.5 cm. Lateral branch diameter: About 1 to 2 mm. Internode length: About 0.3 to 1.6 cm. Texture: Young, slightly pubescent; older, glabrous. Color: 146C with overtones of 200C.

Foliage description.--Arrangement Alternate, single. Quantity: About 13 to 34 per lateral branch. Shape: Narrowly spatulate in outline, lobed and sometimes toothed. Apex: Narrowly lobed with each segment usually having two to three teeth. Base: Sessile, somewhat clasping. Length: About 0.9 to 3.8 cm. Width: About 0.3 to 1.6 cm. Margin: Three to nine-lobed, often lacking teeth. Texture: Young leaves, faint pubescence on upper midrib; mature leaves, smooth and glabrous. Color: Young leaves, upper surface: 146A to 147A. Young leaves, lower surface: 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 146A to 147A; venation, 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 146B; venation, 144B.

Flowering description:

Inflorescence.--Single daisy-type composite inflorescence form. Florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences last on the plant for about 6 to 12 days and about 7 to 10 days as a fresh cut flower. Self-cleaning.

Natural flowering season.--Natural flowering season is spring to fall; flowering continuous during this period.

Response time.--About 5 to 8 weeks.

Quantity of inflorescences.--About one to three per lateral branch with numerous inflorescences per plant.

Inflorescence diameter.--About 2.4 to 3.9 cm.

Inflorescence depth (height).--About 1 to 1.2 cm.

Disc diameter.--About 1.5 to 1.7 cm.

Inflorescence aspect.--Flat.

Rate of inflorescence opening.--About 6 to 10 days.

Fragrance.--Very faint, honey-like.

Inflorescence buds.--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.

Ray florets.--Quantity: About 21 to 34 florets per inflorescence arranged in one to two rows. Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Blunt, rounded, or dentate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat. Length: About 1.2 to 1.8 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous, thin. Color: When opening, upper surface: 145C becoming dark pink, 186A. When opening, lower surface: 145C with 18C tones becoming dark pink, 186A. Mature, upper surface: 55D, with further development, floret color fades to white, 155D. Mature, lower surface: 56D.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular with five lobes. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Texture: Sparse glandular hairs. Color: Immature: 151B. Mature: 145B; lobes, 2B. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: Numerous.

Peduncle.--Length: About 4.6 to 14.5 cm. Strength: Initially somewhat flexible becoming fairly rigid; erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137C.

Involucral bracts.--Arrangement: Imbricate. Quantity: About 15 to 21 per inflorescence. Shape: Broadly oblong. Apex: Fringed. Margin: Entire to faintly fringed. Texture: Somewhat fleshy. Color: 138A with reddish apex, 186A.

Androecium.--Only present on disc florets. Stamen number: Five per disc floret. Anther shape: Oblong to linear. Anther color: 163C. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 13B.

Gynoecium.--Pistil number: One per floret. Stigma shape: Bilobate. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: 151A. Stigma color: 151A.

Disease resistance: May be susceptible to Botrytis and fungal leaf spot diseases.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Pink`, as illustrated and described.