Lobelia plant named ‘Lobantis’

Abstract

A new Lobelia plant particularly distinguished by its semi-upright mounded plant habit, large flower size and pink flower color.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lobelia erinus.

Varietal denomination: ‘Lobantis’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Lobelia, botanically known as Lobelia erinus. The new cultivar is propagated by cuttings resulting from the cross between ‘Y697A’ (unpatented) and ‘S526’ (unpatented). ‘Y697A’ is a pink flower color selection of our own breeding, having a mounded plant habit and early flowering. ‘S526’ is a light pink flower color selection of our own breeding, having a strong growth and good branching.

As a result of this cross, the present cultivar was created in 1999 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatably asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a three-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Lobelia plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 12 weeks old plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Comparison between the new cultivar ‘Lobantis’ and a similar cultivar
	‘Lobantis’	‘Blue Star’ (unpatented)
	Plant height	15 cm	10 cm
	Plant width	30 cm	35 cm
	Plant shape	Semi-upright	Spreading
	Flower Color
	Upper surface	76B	95B
	Lower surface	76B	100A
	Flower tube	82C	95C

• The plant:
  • • Classification.—Botanical: Lobelia erinus.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—A seedling named ‘Y697A’ is one of our seedings from our Y-generation of plants bred in 1998.
    • Pollen parent.—A seedling named ‘S526’ is one of our seedlings from our S-generation of plants bred in 1992.
• Plant description:
  • • Growth habit.—Semi-upright, mounded.
    • Plant height.—15 cm.
    • Speading area of plant.—30 cm.
    • Growth rate.—Moderate growth.
    • Strength.—Good.
    • Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching at every node. Pinching will enhance branching. Branches strong and flexible.
    • Blooming period.—From May until October.
• The stem:
  • • Diameter.—1.5 mm.
    • Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent, glossy.
    • Color.—RHS 138B.
    • Length of internode.—13 mm, depending on the light conditions where the plant is propagated.
    • Shape.—(Tri)angular.
• The foliage:
  • • Shape.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and flat. Broadly ovate with rounded apex, obtuse to attenuate base and crenate margin.
    • Texture.—Slightly pubescent, glossy.
    • Length.—Young 30 mm, fully expanded 55 mm.
    • Width.—Young 10 mm, fully expanded 23 mm.
    • Color.—Upper side: RHS 137A. Lower side: RHS 138A.
• The flower:
  • • Type and habit.—Flowers form at apical axis, usually one flower per axil. Flowers labiate, upper lip consisting of two small petals and lower lip consisting of three larger and broader petals. Petals are fused at base into a tube. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers face outward. Flower persistent. Texture, slightly pubescent. Oblong shape with acute apex and entire margin.
    • Flower.—Width: Upper petals 1 mm, lower petals 6 mm. Length: Upper petals 5 mm, lower petals 10 mm. Depth: 7 mm.
    • Texture.—Smooth, pubescent.
    • Buds.—Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Form: Tubular. Color: Light green.
    • Flower color.—Upper surface: RHS 76B. Lower surface: RHS 76B. Flower tube: RHS 82C.
    • Sepals.—No. of sepals: 5. Length: 6 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent. Color: RHS 137B.
    • Flower stem.—Length: 25 mm. Angle: Upright. Strength: Rigid, flexible. Color: RHS 137B.
    • Flower throat.—Color: Upper RHS 76B. Lower RHS 76B, spots RHS N81A. Texture: Whiskered.
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Androecium.—Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: 1 mm. Pollen color: RHS 202B. Amount of pollen: Moderate.
    • Gynoecium.—Pistil length: 8 mm. Stigma shape: Bilobate. Stigma diameter: 1 mm. Stigma color: N87A. Style color: Light green. Ovary color: RHS 137B.
• Seed development: No seed development has been observed on plants of the new Lobelia.
• Disease resistance: No susceptibility or resistance to fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens has been noted.

Claims

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