Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’
A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’, characterized by its glossy dark green leaves; upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching plant habit; freely flowering habit; and large orange and purple-colored flowers with dark red centers.
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rose-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Gabriel.
The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Plaquemine, La. The objective of the breeding program is to create new large-flowered Hibiscus cultivars with unique and desirable flower colors.
The new Hibiscus originated from a cross made by the Inventor in Plaquemine, La., of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Topaz Glory, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Gabriel was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Plaquemine, La.
Compared to plants of the topaz-flowered female parent, the cultivar Topaz Glory, plants of the new Hibiscus are more outwardly spreading and more freely branching.
Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Plaquemine, La., has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe cultivar Gabriel has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Gabriel’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gabriel’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Glossy dark green leaves.
2. Upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching plant habit that is appropriate for container production.
3. Freely flowering habit.
4. Large orange and purple-colored flowers with dark red centers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHSThe accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.
Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus.
The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Gabriel’ that was about 12 months old.
The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Gabriel’.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONThe following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Plaquemine La., with one plant per 12.5-cm container, during the summer under outdoor conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Plants used for the description were about 9 months old. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Gabriel.
Parentage:
Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Topaz Glory, not patented.
Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, not patented.
Propagation:
Type.—By terminal cuttings.
Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 40 days at temperatures of 22° C. Winter: About 50 days at temperatures of 22° C.
Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 60 days at temperatures of 22° C. Winter: About 70 days at temperatures of 22° C.
Root description.—Fibrous and well-branched.
Plant description:
Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen; upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.
Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three or four lateral branches develop after removal of terminal apex.
Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 38 cm.
Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 48 cm.
Lateral branch description.—Length: About 33 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Texture: Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough. Color: Immature: Green, close to 147A to 147B, overlain with anthocyanin, close to 200A to 200C. Mature: Gray, close to 197A.
Foliage description:
Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.
Length.—About 9.6 cm.
Width.—About 9.3 cm.
Shape.—Broadly ovate.
Apex.—Acute to rounded or cuspidate.
Base.—Obtuse.
Margin.—Crenate.
Texture.—Upper surface, glabrous; lower surface, rough and slightly pubescent; rugose.
Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; glossy. Young foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B; dull. Mature foliage, upper surface: Much darker than 147A; glossy. Mature foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B; dull.
Petiole.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Very fine pubescence on upper surface; lower surface, glabrous. Color: Dark greenish brown; close to 200A with faint undertones of 147A.
Flower description:
Natural flowering season.—Spring through fall or during periods of warm weather.
Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf axils. Very freely flowering with usually about two or three developing flower buds and one or two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers face upright or outward.
Flower appearance.—Large, rounded single flowers. Flowers are open for about one or two days before closing. Flowers persistent.
Flower diameter.—About 18.7 cm.
Flower depth.—About 9.6 cm.
Flower bud (just before showing color).—Rate of opening: About three to five days depending on temperatures. Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close or slightly darker than 147A.
Petals.—Texture: Smooth, satiny, rugose. Arrangement: Corolla consists of five overlapping petals. Shape: Roughly spatulate; asymmetrical. Apex: Mostly rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; undulate and ruffled. Length: About 9.4 cm. Width: About 10.3 cm. Color: Upper surface: Margin, yellow, 9A to 9B fading to 11A to 11B, overlain with red, 42A, fading to orange, 28A; center, pink, 62B to 62C, fading to 62C to 62D, overlain with dark purple, 79A; veins in center, pink, 62B to 62C to 62D, fading to white, 155D; base, dark red, 53A to 59A, and shiny. Lower surface: Margin, yellow, 9A to 7A, fading to 9C; center, pink, 62B to 62D, gradually becoming white, 155D, at base.
Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx. Shape: Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Rough, pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Close to 146B. Lower surface: Close to 146A.
Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Angle: Upright and bent below flower about 120° from vertical. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146A with occasional anthocyanin, close to 200C, towards base.
Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about 92. Anther shape: Crescent. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: 10A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium: Pistil number: One. Pistil length: About 8.5 cm. Style length: About 5.7 cm. Style diameter, at base: About 1 cm. Style color: Base, 53A; mid-section, close to 52A; apex, 52C. Stigma number: Five. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 44A.
Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.
Disease resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens common to Hibiscus.
Claims
1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’, as illustrated and described.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 18, 2001
Date of Patent: Jun 25, 2002
Assignee: Dupont Nursery, Inc. (Plaquemine, LA)
Inventor: Robert J. Dupont, Sr. (Plaquemine, LA)
Primary Examiner: Bruce R. Campell
Assistant Examiner: Michelle Kizilkaya
Attorney, Agent or Law Firm: C. A. Whealy
Application Number: 09/761,476