Torenia plant named ‘DANMOON15’

A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Danmoon15’ particularly characterized by plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in shades of violet and purple-violet with a yellow blotch on lower petal; cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

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Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘DANMOON15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANMOON15’.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor Gabriel Danziger in 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-2-1002’ (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1’ (unpatented). The new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft tip cuttings was first performed in November of 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘DANMOON15’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

    • 1. Plants plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in shades of violet and purple-violet with a yellow blotch on lower petal;
    • 2. Cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit;
    • 3. Vigorous growth habit;
    • 4. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets;
    • 5. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate;
    • 6. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and
    • 7. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘TR-2-1002’ (unpatented) and ‘TR-1’ (unpatented) in the following characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent New Cultivar ‘TR-2-1002’ Character ‘DANMOON15’ (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of violet Petal shades of violet color and purple-violet, and blue with a yellow with a yellow blotch blotch on lower petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: 3.0 cm Depth: About 3.5 cm Width: 3.0 cm Width: About 4 cm Growth habit Bush, cascading Bush, cascading Flowering time Less than 4 weeks 5 weeks from planting from planting Male Parent Character ‘TR-1’ (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of pink color with a yellow blotch on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 2.8 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush Flowering time 3 weeks from planting

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ is the Torenia cultivar ‘DANTOHONEYMON’ (unpatented, and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,187, in the following characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANTOHONEYMON’ Characteristic ‘DANMOON15′ (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of violet and Petal shades of red-purple, Color purple-violet, with a and purple, with a yellow yellow blotch on lower blotch on lower petal petal Flower size Depth: About 3.0 cm Depth: About 3.0 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush, cascading Bush, cascading Flowering time Less than 4 weeks from 9 weeks from planting planting

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with 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 color of ‘DANMOON15’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANMOON15’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANMOON15’ at 3 months of age.

 DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANMOON15’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANMOON15’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis. Plants of ‘DANMOON15’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANMOON15’ are fully grown in 3 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANMOON15’ plants described herein were grown indoors in 16 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘DANMOON15’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the ‘DANMOON15’ plants described in 8 weeks.

  • Parentage:
      • Female or seed parent.—Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-2-1002’ (unpatented).
      • Male or pollen parent.—Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1’ (unpatented).
  • Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings.
  • Plant:
      • Form.—Bush, cascading.
      • Growth habit.—Compact, rounded.
      • Height.—About 10 cm.
      • Spread.—60 to 80 cm.
      • Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may damage plants.
      • Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 3 months from planting cutting in during summer season.
  • Stem:
      • Color.—Green, RHS 143A.
      • Length.—About 35 cm.
      • Diameter.—About 2.8 mm.
      • Pubescence.—Minimal.
      • Branching.—About 5 to 12 main branches grow from the base and split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.
      • Length of internodes.—1.0 to 7.0 cm.
  • Foliage:
      • Overall shape.—Triangular.
      • Apex.—Acuminate.
      • Base.—Reniform.
      • Size of leaf.—Width: 1.8 to 4.0 cm. Length: About 4.0 cm.
      • Margin.—Serrate.
      • Color.—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A. Upper side: Green, RHS 137A. Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146B.
      • Leaf texture.—Primarily Smooth (minimal pubescence present — few hairs on every leaf which are less than 0.3 mm long).
      • Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 146B (upper and lower surfaces).
      • Petioles.—Length: About 0.4 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 137A.
  • Flowers:
      • Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs between February and November outdoors.
      • Flowering response time.—Less than 4 weeks from planting.
      • Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.
      • Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 4 to 6. Per plant: About 200 to 400.
      • Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 2 to 5 days, depending on temperature; Vase life: about 2 to 4 days.
      • Type.—Single.
      • Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged. Corolla tube: cylindrical or often broadened above. Corolla: 2-lipped, the upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.
      • Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.
      • Fragrance.—None.
      • Flower size.—Depth: About 3.0 cm. Width: About 3.0 cm.
      • Bud.—Shape: Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged. Size: Length: About 25 mm. Diameter: About 10 mm.
      • Color.—Apex: Purple-violet, RHS 81A. Base: Green, RHS 143B.
      • Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.
      • Floral tube.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 0.3 cm to 1.2 cm. Color: The colors change going through the flower tube down. Outside: Violet, RHS 84A (starting from about), yellow-orange, RHS 16A (base) and violet, RHS 85C (middle). Inside: Violet, RHS 85A (apex) and yellow-orange, RHS 17A (base).
      • Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper Petal: About 2.5 cm.; Side Petals: About 2.5 cm.; Lower Petal: About 2.4 cm. Width: Upper Petal: About 1.2 cm.; Side Petals: About 1 cm.; Lower Petal: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Upper Petal: Overall: orbicular. Apex: rounded, Base: fused, Side Petals: Overall: spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused, Lower: Overall: spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Undulated and toothed. Color: Purple-violet petals with darker purple-violet blotches on side petals surrounding the corolla, and a yellow blotch in the middle of the lower petal near base, and light violet color at base of all petals.
      • Mature petals.—Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, purple-violet, RHS 80A, and near base, light violet, RHS 85A; and margin, RHS N80B. Side Petals: Near apex, purple-violet, RHS N81A, with centralized darker purple-violet blotch, RHS N81A, and near base, light violet, RHS 85A, and margin RHS N81A. Lower Petal: Primarily purple-violet, RHS N81A, with yellow blotch, RHS 6A, in the middle near base, and light violet color surrounding yellow blotch and near base, RHS 85A, and margin RHS N81A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, RHS N80B, and near base, RHS N80B and margin, RHS N80A. Side Petals: Near apex, RHS N80A, and near base, RHS N80C and margin, RHS N80A. Lower Petal: Near apex, RHS 158A, and near base, RHS 85A and margin, RHS N80A. Throat: Upper throat: Light violet, RHS 85A. Lower throat: Yellow, RHS 6A.
      • Immature petals.—Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, RHS N80A, and near base, RHS 84A; and margin, RHS 77A; Side Petals: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, near base, RHS 77A, and margin RHS 77A; Lower Petal: Primarily purple, RHS 77A, with yellow blotch, RHS 6A, in the middle near base, and margin RHS 77A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, and near base, RHS N81A and margin, RHS N81A; Side Petals: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, and near base, violet, RHS 84D, and margin, RHS N81A; Lower Petal: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, and near base, RHS 77A and margin, RHS 77A; Throat: Center of Flower: Light violet, RHS 84A.
      • Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 0.8 cm. Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged. Apex: Acute. Base: Wedge shaped. Margin: Undulated. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144A.
      • Peduncle.—Length: About 0.5 to 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143B.
  • Reproductive organs:
      • Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused. Color: Light purple, RHS 76C. Anther: Length: About 0.4 cm; upper anther shorter — about 0.3 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm. Color: Light purple, RHS 76C. Spur: Present. Filament: Length: About 1.5 cm; lower filaments are shorter about 0.4 cm. Width: About 0.5 cm. Color: Light purple, RHS 76C. Pollen: Amount: Sparse. Color: White, RHS N155B. Requirements for pollination: Young flowers, vital pollen, and receptive, open stigma.
      • Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower. Length: About 2.3 cm. Stigma: Length: About 0.2 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. Color: Light purple, RHS 76B. Style: Length: About 2 cm. Color: Light purple, RHS 76B. Ovary: Number: 1. Length: About 0.5 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm. Color: Green, RHS 143A.
  • Seed/fruit: None.
  • Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was observed.
  • Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANMOON15’, as illustrated and described herein.

Referenced Cited
Other references
  • European Union Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)—Application No. 2005/2544 filed Dec. 1, 2005—documents include copy of filing receipt dated Dec. 8, 2005 (2 pgs.); and Technical Questionnaire (5 pgs.).
Patent History
Patent number: PP17996
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 22, 2006
Date of Patent: Sep 4, 2007
Assignee: Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm (Post Beit Dagan)
Inventor: Gabriel Danziger (Moshav Nir-Zvi)
Primary Examiner: Kent Bell
Assistant Examiner: Annette H Para
Attorney: Foley & Lardner, LLP
Application Number: 11/357,982
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: PLT/263
International Classification: A01H 5/00 (20060101);