Euphorbia interspecific hybrid plant named ‘Eckcory’
The variety “Eckcory” is a new and distinct interspecific hybrid plant. The plant is characterized by clean and dark green foliage, eliptical leaves that have acute bases and acuminate tips, brightly colored pink and white brachts and strong lateral branching.
This application claims the priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/690,370, filed Oct. 16, 2000.
Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima×Euphorbia cornastra insterspecific hybrid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to the new and distinct variety of interspecific plant termed “Eckcory.” The new plant was created in my greenhouse and laboratory in Encinitas, Calif. The plant was prepared by crossing the Euphorbia pulcherrima variety “M-6,” a Paul Ecke Ranch proprietary variety, with a seedling of the uncultivated species Euphorbia cornastra. The variety was selected by excision of a newly formed embryo from a seedpod followed by growth into a plantlet on nutrient agar medium. The cultured plantlet was transplanted to a greenhouse growing-medium, where it developed into the mature plant of the invention. As the plant matured, it exhibited strong terminal dominance with little lateral branch development. To induce lateral branching, the new plant was grafted onto a “selfbranching” rootstock by application of the procedures set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,276.
The plant of the invention is distinct from the parent plants from which it was derived. For example, Euphorbia pulcherrima is a “short day” plant with respect to flower initiation, while Euphorbia cornastra is a “long day” plant. However, the interspecific hybrid flowered in response to short days and the time to full flower development was found to be a relatively short six weeks, compared to the E. pulcherrima parent that took nine weeks for flower development under the same growing environment.
The first vegetative propagation of the plant in vitro occurred in October, 1998 in Encinitas Calif. The plant was first propagated ex vitro by grafting in August, 1999 in Encinitas, Calif. The distinctive characteristics of the plant remained consistent following propagation.
The plant of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying color photographs.
The following is a detailed description of the new plant as observed in Encinitas, Calif., USA during May 2000. Observations were recorded from flowering plants, grown as one branched plant per pot. Plants were about 14 weeks from unrooted cuttings when photographs were taken. The pot was 17 cm in diameter and 13 cm in height. Color designations are compared to the 1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart, first published in 1966 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.
Claims
1. A new and distinct Euphorbia interspecific hybrid plant variety named “Eckcory” as illustrated and described herein.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 6, 2001
Date of Patent: Jul 12, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20030051284
Inventor: Ruth Kobayashi (Carlsbad, CA)
Primary Examiner: Kent Bell
Assistant Examiner: W C Haas
Attorney: Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Application Number: 09/947,586