Carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lani’

Abstract

A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lani’ having medium size flowers. The flower color is a purple stained cream yellow base with a purple splash broad picotee.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: The new carnation variety denomination is ‘CFPC Lani’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybrid carnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘CFPC Lani’.

‘CFPC Lani’, identified as selection no. 020535, originated from a cross made by Roy Stahlhut in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. The female parent of the new variety is the unpatented variety known as selection no. 000277 and the male parent is the unpatented variety known as selection no. 000271. The new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttings in Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CFPC Lani’ is a potted spray-type of carnation plant variety having medium size flowers. The flower color is a purple stained cream yellow base with a purple splash broad picotee.

COMPARISON WITH FEMALE PARENT

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ are dissimilar to plants of the female parent selection no. 000277 in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ differed from plants of the female parent in the following characteristics:

• • 1. The new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ produces more flowers per peduncle than the female parent.
  • 2. The new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ produces flowers with a more even peduncle development than the female parent.

COMPARISON WITH MALE PARENT

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ are dissimilar to plants of the male parent selection no. 000271 in plant habit and growth rate, and differed from plants of the male parent in the following characteristics:

• • 1. The new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ produces bright purple flowers with a purple picotee while the male parent produces light red flowers.
  • 2. The new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ produces plants with a better bud count and peduncle form than plants of the male parent.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETIES

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ are similar to plants of the patent pending variety ‘CFPC Lahana’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/177,826) in plant habit and growth rate. However, under similar growing conditions in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ differed from plants of ‘CFPC Lahana’ in at least the following characteristics:

• • 1. The new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ produces bright purple flowers with a purple picotee while ‘CFPC Lahana’ produces burgundy flowers with a burgundy picotee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ are shown in the accompanying photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘CFPC Lani’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 119 days from date of planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lani’ is of plants 119 days from the date of planting grown in a commercial greenhouse in Salinas, Calif. in the month of December. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity without any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 28° C. during the day under light conditions of about 12 hours. Plants are daylight neutral and flower throughout the year. Chemical growth regulators are not required for production.

The new variety may be produced as a potted spray-type carnation. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Pinched plants are about 17.8 cm tall and about 16.5 cm in diameter. Flower diameter averages about 5.1 cm with a crown of about 1.9 cm. Foliage is generally about 7.6 cm long and about 0.7-1.0 cm at the widest point. The typical container size for commercial growth is 4½ inches. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with the first appearance of color in the buds occurring at about 100-110 days after planting of cuttings. The commercial classification of the new carnation variety is a potted spray-type.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a potted spray-type. The plant and flower measurements and foliage size are established as an average using standard commercial cultural practices. In the description of this new carnation variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

PLANT

• Height (cm): 17.8.
• Form: Herbaceous.
• Growing habit: Semi-upright.
• Branching characteristics: 2-3 laterals per stem.
• Breaking action: 4-5 breaks per plant with strong straight stems.
• First appearance of color in buds: 100-110 days after planting.
• Vigor: Very good.
• Shelf life: 21 days.
• Blooming habit: Spray type.
• Blooming season: Year round.
• Lastingness of blooms: About 10 days.
• Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): Good resistance to soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. graminearium, and root rots such as damping off, water molds and similar types, as is typical of carnations.
• Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed.
• Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed.
• Mutation prone: No.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—Side shoot cuttings.
    • Time to rooting.—19 days with soil temperatures of 18° C. to 21° C.
    • Rooting habit.—Good fibrous system.
• Growth treatments or special conditions: None.

FOLIAGE

• Stem:
  • • Diameter.—Base (cm): 0.6. Apex (cm): 0.1.
    • Texture.—Smooth.
    • Cross section.—Edged.
    • Color.—139A after removal of waxy coating.
• Number of leaves per lateral branch: 16-18.
• Arrangement of leaves: Bi-lateral along the stem.
  • • Shape of leaf.—Long, narrow, lanceolate.
    • Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 0.7-1.0. Length (cm): 7.6.
    • Leaf apex.—Acute.
    • Edge.—Smooth.
    • Surface texture.—Top: smooth. Bottom: smooth.
• Leaf venation: Prominent mid-vein at underside.
• Leaf longitudinal axis: Rolled.
• Leaf cross section (upper side): Weakly concave.
• Leaf color:
  • • Mature leaf, upper side.—137A after removal of waxy coating.
    • Mature leaf, under side.—137B after removal of waxy coating.
    • Young leaf, upper side.—137A after removal of waxy coating.
    • Young leaf, under side.—137B after removal of waxy coating.
• Leaf waxy layer: Medium.

FLOWER

• Flower appearance: Matte.
• Flower type: Semi-double.
• Flower profile of upper part of corolla: Flat convex.
• Flower profile of lower part of corolla: Concave.
• Flower shape: Flattened dome, round.
• Number of blossoms per branch: 18-20.
  • • Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—1.9.
    • Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—5.1.
• Calyx:
  • • Sepals number.—5.
    • Length (cm).—0.9.
    • Width (cm).—0.9.
    • Color.—Outer side: middle to tip: 137C. Base: 147D. Inner side: 138C.
    • Texture.—Smooth.
    • Appearance.—Matte.
    • Shape.—Cylindrical.
• Flower petals:
  • • Form/shape: Fan shaped.
    • Petal edge.—Serrated: Width (mm): 1-2. Depth (mm): 1-2. Edge type: crenate-dentate.
    • Texture.—Smooth.
    • Appearance.—Matte.
    • Petal surface of blade.—Undulating.
    • Number per flower.—20.
    • Outer petals.—Length (cm): 5.1. Width (cm): 3.0.
    • Inner petals.—Length (cm): 4.6. Width (cm): 2.5.
• Fragrance: Slightly sweet.
• Flower bud (at onset of color):
  • • Length (cm).—3.2.
    • Diameter (cm).—1.1.
    • Form/shape.—Ovoid.
• Flower color:
  • • 1. General tonality.—Purple stained cream yellow base color with a purple splashed broad picotee.
    • 2. Petals, upper surface.—68C.
    • 3. Petals, lower surface.—62C.
    • 4. Petals, edge.—64A.
    • 5. Petals, center.—68C.
    • 6. Early bud.—64A.
• Color distribution: Striated-speckled-shading off.
• Petal macule: Present.
• Flower progression with age: Retains color well.
• Other distinguishing characteristics: Occasional white (whiter than 155D) or purple (approximately 87B) striations.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

• Gynoecium: Pistillate.
  • • Pistil number.—1.
    • Pistil length (cm).—3.7.
    • Pistil color.—Whiter than 155D at base up to stigma top; stigma hairs 68C.
    • Stigma number.—2 or 3.
    • Stigma color.—White with purple flush, whiter than 155D at base up to stigma top; stigma hairs 68C.
    • Stigma shape.—Filamentous.
    • Style color.—Whiter than 155D.
    • Style number.—2 or 3.
• Ovary:
  • • Shape.—Ovoid.
    • Surface.—Smooth.
    • Color.—Base: 157A. Body: 144B. Apex: 144B.
• Androecium: None produced.
• Fruit and seeds: None produced.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of carnation plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein.