Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabscar’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabscar’ characterized by its scarlet red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, floriferousness, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabscar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabscar’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during September 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2043-2, not patented, characterized by its scarlet red-colored flowers and semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1032-2, not patented, characterized by its cherry red-colored flowers and semi-upright growth habit. The new Calibrochoa was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish, ‘Balcabscar’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

• • 1. Scarlet red-colored flowers;
  • 2. Medium green-colored foliage;
  • 3. Floriferousness; and
  • 4. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Sunbelre’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,756. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Sunbelre’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of ‘Sunbelre’; and
  • 2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of ‘Sunbelre’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabscar’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabscar’.

FIG. 2 illustrated a close-up view of two individual flowers of ‘Balcabscar’ showing the change in color as the flower matures. The flower on the left is just open; the flower on the right is fully open.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jul. 25, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 50° F. to 58° F. (10° C. to 14° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

• Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabscar.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2043-2, not patented.
    • Male parent.—Proprietary Calabrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1032-2, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
    • Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.
    • Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.
    • Root description.—Fibrous.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.
    • Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing.
    • Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 9.8 cm. Width: Approximately 53.6 cm.
    • Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 6 main branches per plant, with lateral branches forming at very node.
    • Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 25.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.9 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 145B at apex with 187A at base. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately 1.5 cm.
    • Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 31. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite. Aspect: Obtuse angle. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 6.9 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145A. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 137C with venation of 145A. Petiole Length: 3.0 mm. Petiole diameter: 2.0 mm. Petiole texture: Densely pubescent. Petiole color: 145A.
• Flowering description:
  • • Flowering habit.—‘Balcabscar’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse environment.
    • Time to first flower.—Approximately 10.5 weeks from sticking of unrooted cutting.
    • Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 days.
• Flower description:
  • • Type.—Single, salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately 185.
    • Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower.
    • Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.2 mm. Texture: Glandular-pubescent. Color: petals 61A, corolla tube 160A with venation of 166A.
    • Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.6 cm.
    • Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse almost truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Petal length from tube: Approximately 1.3 cm. Petal length of free portion: Approximately 6.3 mm. Petal width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color of upper surface when first open: Between 53B and 53C with venation of 166A. Color of upper surface when fully open: Between 45B and 45C with venation of 166A. Color of lower surface when first open: 54A with venation of 166A. Color of lower surface when fully open: Between 54A and 54B with venation of 166A.
    • Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter at distal end: Approximately 7.6 mm. Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Tube texture inner surface: Glabrous. Tube texture outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Color inner surface: 15A with venation of 166A. Color of outer surface: 12C with venation of 166A.
    • Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: At acute angle to stem to slightly curving. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.8 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.
    • Calyx.—Width: Approximately 1.1 cm.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 fused along lower half. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Sepal length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Sepal width: Approximately 2.4 mm. Texture of upper surface: Densely pubescent with very short hairs. Texture of lower surface: Glandular pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 143A at apex gradually transitioning to 144C at base.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 fused to inside of corolla tube. Stamen length: 1.2 cm. Filament length of free portion: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament color: 144D. Anther shape: Oval, bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color: 21B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 11A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma color: N144D. Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: N144D.
• Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
• Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabscar’, substantially as herein shown and described.