Kalanchoe plant named ‘Segula’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Segula’, characterized by its numerous, large, and light red purple-colored flowers; upright and uniform plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green and glossy leaves; early flowering; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Description

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Segula.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Segula’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1998 of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Lokon, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Gede, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Segula was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal vegetative cuttings taken at De Lier, The Netherlands, since 1998 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Segula 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 ‘Segula’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Segula’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous, large, and light red purple-colored flowers.

2. Upright and uniform plant habit.

3. Freely branching growth habit.

4. Dark green and glossy leaves.

5. Early flowering.

6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Lokon. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Lokon in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were larger and more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Lokon.

2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger leaves than plants of the cultivar Lokon.

3. Flower color of plants of the new Kalanchoe was lighter red purple than flower color of plants of the cultivar Lokon.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Gede. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Gede in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more uniform in growth habit than plants of the cultivar Gede.

2. Flower color of plants of the new Kalanchoe was light red purple whereas flower color of plants of the cultivar Gede was yellow.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe are similar in flower color to plants of the Kalanchoe cultivar Keruna, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Keruna in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Keruna.

2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Keruna.

3. Flower color of plants of the new Kalanchoe was softer red purple and did not fade as readily as flower color of plants of the cultivar Keruna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, 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 colors of the new Kalanchoe.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Segula’.

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. Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and for the description were grown during the spring in De Lier, The Netherlands, in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19 to 26° C.; night temperatures ranged from 20 to 21° C.; and light levels ranged from 10,000 to 50,000 lux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 12.5-cm containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about 2 weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about 15 weeks old from an unrooted cutting when the photograph and the description were taken.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Segula.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Lokon, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Gede, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 13 days at 21° C. Winter: About 16 days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 21 days at 21° C. Winter: About 28 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright and uniform plant habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes. Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 10 to 15-cm containers.

Crop time.—About 11 to 14 weeks: 3 to 4 weeks under long day/short night conditions followed by 8 to 10 weeks of short day/long night conditions. Moderate growth rate.

Plant height at flowering.—About 20 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 19 cm.

Branching habit.—Freely branching; typically 7 to 8 lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal of terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral branch development.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 13 to 19 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 7 cm. Internode length: About 2 to 4 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical. Quantity per plant: About 8 to 13 mature leaves and 14 to 22 generative leaves. Length: About 11 cm. Width: About 7 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Leathery, glabrous and succulent. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 147A; slightly overlaid with anthocyanin, close to 185A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 147B; slightly overlain with anthocyanin, close to 185A. Venation, upper surface: 147A to 147B. Venation, lower surface: 147B. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm by 8 mm. Petiole color: Upper surface: 147A to 147B. Lower surface: 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Freely flowering; more than 25 open flowers per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers per plant. Flowering continuously for at least six weeks.

Flowers persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring. Flower initiation and development can also be induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at least 14 hours of darkness).

Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive conditions, about 8 to 10 weeks are required. Actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.

Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance for about 45 days under interior environmental conditions. Individual flowers last about 18 days on the plant.

Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.

Flower height.—About 1.4 cm.

Flower buds.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with development. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Color: Initially 138C, then 63D with development. Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 6.5 mm. Aspect: Flat to slightly upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: 73A; flower color does not fade with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: 73D.

Sepals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About2mm. Aspect: Erect. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 138D.

Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, leathery. Color: 138B.

Reproductive organ.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Eight. Anther shape: Flat, elliptic. Anther size: About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Four. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: 138D. Stigma shape: Flat, rounded. Stigma color: 8D. Ovary color: 138D.

Seed.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color: Close to 166C.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens common to Kalanchoes.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been observed to tolerate low temperatures of 12° C. and high temperatures of 35° C.

Garden performance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe perform have been observed to perform well in the garden and are tolerant to rain and wind.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Segula’, as illustrated and described.