Lobelia plant named ‘Grülo 02’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Grülo 02’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading to cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; and large white-colored flowers.

Description

Botanical designation: Lobelia richardii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Grülo 02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botanically known as Lobelia richardii, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Grülo 02’.

The new Lobelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Lobelia cultivars with a cascading habit, large flowers and attractive flower colors.

The new Lobelia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2002 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia richardii identified as code number IO 3, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia richardii identified as code number IO 4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the resultant progeny from the above-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlled environment in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands in August, 2002.

Asexual reproduction since September, 2002 of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Lobelia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Grülo 02’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Grülo 02’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

• • 1. Upright, outwardly spreading to cascading plant habit.
  • 2. Freely branching habit.
  • 3. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • 4. Large white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia and the female parent selection differ primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light blue-colored flowers. Plants of the new Lobelia and the male parent selection differ primarily in plant form as plants of the male parent selection have a more trailing plant habit.

Plants of the cultivar Grülo 02 can be compared to the cultivar Weslowei, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,708. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the new Lobelia and the cultivar Weslowei differed in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Lobelia were longer than plants of the cultivar Weslowei.
  • 2. Lower flower petals of plants of the new Lobelia were larger than lower flower petals of plants of the cultivar Weslowei.
  • 3. Plants of the new Lobelia flowered about two weeks earlier than plants of the cultivar Weslowei.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Lobelia. The photograph comprises a side view of a typical plant of ‘Grülo 02’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Grülo 02 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following description were grown in an outdoor nursery under conditions that closely approximate commercial production conditions during the spring and summer in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 24° C., night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 14° C. and light levels ranged from 20,000 to 45,000 lux. Plants were pinched once during the production period. Plants were about four months from planting when the photographs and description were taken.

• Botanical classification: Lobelia richardii cultivar Grülo 02.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia richardii identified as code number IO 3, not patented.
    • Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia richardii identified as code number IO 4, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots.—About 8 to 10 days at 16° C.
    • Time to develop roots.—About three to four weeks at 16° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched; color, 162C.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant form/habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading to cascading plant habit; plants eventually become spherical in form. Plants uniform and freely branching with lateral branches potentially forming at every node; dense and bushy plant habit; pinching plants enhances branching. Vigorous growth habit.
    • Plant height.—About 15 cm.
    • Plant length (soil level to lateral branches apices).—About 40 to 50 cm.
    • Plant diameter.—About 20 to 25 cm.
    • Lateral branch description.—Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 12 to 14. Length: About 25 to 30 cm. Diameter: About 1 to 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 2 to 3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.
    • Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Basal leaves: Length: About 3 to 3.5 cm. Width: About 2.4 to 3 cm. Shape: Elliptic to oval. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse to rounded. Margin: Crenate. Mid-plant and apical leaves: Length: About 3.5 to 4 cm. Width: About 1.6 to 2 cm. Shape: Rhomboid to obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse to rounded. Margin: Crenate. Texture, all leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation, all leaves: Pinnate. Color, all leaves: Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 147B. Fully developed foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 147A. Fully developed foliage, lower surface: 147B to 147C; venation, 147B. Petiole length: About 8 to 10 mm. Petiole diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper surface: 147B. Petiole color, lower surface: 147C.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type and habit.—Flowers arranged singly at lateral apices. Flowers held mostly outwardly. Flowers not persistent. Older flowers are overgrown by new flowers and foliage. Early flowering; plants begin flower about six to eight weeks after pinching. Freely flowering, about 120 to 150 flowers and flower buds per plant. Flowers not fragrant.
    • Flower shape.—Tubular with three larger lower petals and two upright petals.
    • Natural flowering season.—From early spring until the autumn in The Netherlands.
    • Flower longevity on the plant.—Typically eight to ten days.
    • Flower size.—Diameter: Large, about 2 to 2.4 cm. Depth (height): About 2 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 4 mm. Shape: Oblong. Color: 154D.
    • Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused; three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals. Three lower petals: Length, above throat: About 1.3 to 1.5 cm. Width: About 8 to 10 mm. Two upper petals: Length, above throat: About 6 mm. Width: About 1 to 2 mm. Upper and lower petals: Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 155A; central stripes, 4C. When opening, lower surface: More white than 155D. Fully opened, upper surface: More white than 155D; central stripes, 154D. Tube color: Close to 155D. Throat color: Close to 155A. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: 155D.
    • Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, star-shaped calyx. Length: About 8 to 10 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: 144A. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 to 1 mm. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About five. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: N200C. Filament length: About 1 mm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 3B. Pistils: Quantity per flower. One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: N200B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: N200B. Ovary color: N200B. Seeds: Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: 200D.
• Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia.
• Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 0° C. to 40° C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Grülo 02’, as illustrated and described.