Geranium plant named ‘Balfanimvio’

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balfanimvio’, characterized by its semi-double type medium violet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with zonation, and vigorous, upright growth habit.

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Description

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfanimvio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfanimvio’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during February 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Geranium cultivars that flower uniformly and have large flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated 3040-2, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type dark violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage with zonation, and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated BFP-3658, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type dark purple-violet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the 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 ‘Balfanimvio’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

    • 1. Semi-double type medium violet-colored flowers;
    • 2. Medium green-colored foliage with zonation; and
    • 3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

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

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Fantasia® Violet ‘Balfanvio’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,648. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balfanvio’ in the following characteristics:

    • 1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from plants of ‘Balfanvio’; and
    • 2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and wider than plants of ‘Balfanvio’.

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 ‘Balfanimvio’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

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

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of ‘Balfanimvio’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balfanimvio’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Balfanimvio’.

 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. Color 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. 18, 2006 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.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 glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

  • Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Balfanimvio.
  • Parentage:
      • Female parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated 3040-2, not patented.
      • Male parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated BFP-3658, not patented.
  • Propagation:
      • Type cutting.—Terminal stem.
      • Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 13 days.
      • Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 18 to 20 days.
      • Root description.—Fibrous.
      • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
  • Plant description:
      • Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.
      • Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright.
      • Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 21.1 cm. Height from soil level to top of foliage: Approximately 11.0 cm. Width: Approximately 22.8 cm.
      • Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 2.
      • Branch.—Strength. Strong. Length: Approximately 4.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 8.6 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color of young and mature stems: 144A.
  • Foliage description:
      • General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 9. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.
      • Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin: Crenate, palmately lobed. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cordate. Venation Pattern: Palmate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.2 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 8.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Texture of lower surface: Pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs, dense on venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 137A. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 146A with venation of 147C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137B with a very weak zone of 147A and venation of 137B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with venation of 147C.
      • Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color: 144A.
  • Flowering description:
      • Flowering habit.—‘Balfanimvio’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.
      • Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately 13 to 15 days.
  • Inflorescence description:
      • General description.—Type: Umbel. Positioned above foliage. Quantity of fully open umbels per plant: Approximately 1. Quantity of developing umbels per plant: Approximately: 2. Fragrance: None. Length or height: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width: Approximately 10.1 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 12.
      • Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 14.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color: 144A with an overlay of 187C.
  • Flower description:
      • General description.—Type: Semi-double.
      • 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: Elliptic. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately 9.5 mm. Sepal texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Petal texture: Glabrous. Petals color: 45B.
      • Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 4.9 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.9 cm.
      • Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 6 petals and 1 irregularly-shaped petaloid per flower. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Velvety, iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of upper petals: Approximately 1.8 cm. Length of lower petals: Approximately 2.6 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when fully open: 45B at margin transitioning to N57A toward center with an overlay of 40A from center to base and venation of 46A. Color of lower surface of upper petals when fully open: N57A at margin fading to N57C toward base with an overlay at base of 40B. Color of upper surface of flower petals when fully open: N57A with margin of 45B and venation at base of 46A. Color of lower surface of lower petals when fully open: N57A with margin of 45B and venation of 187D.
      • Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm.
      • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Fused. Length of upper sepal: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of upper sepal: Approximately 4.9 mm. Length of lower sepals: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color of upper surface: 144A. Color of lower surface: 144A with an overlay of 187C.
      • Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color: 146A with an overlay of 187C.
      • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens: Approximately 9 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 72A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: N30A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape: 5 branched. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 47D. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style color: Lighter than 153D. Ovary length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely pubescent. Ovary color: 144C.
  • Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.
  • Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Geranium has not been observed.

Claims

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

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
PP14648 March 30, 2004 Trees
Other references
  • UPOV ROM GTITM Computer Database, GTI Jouve Retrieval Software 2007/02 Citation for ‘Balfanimvio’.
Patent History
Patent number: PP18556
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 8, 2006
Date of Patent: Mar 4, 2008
Assignee: Ball Horticultural Company (West Chicago, IL)
Inventor: Scott C. Trees (Shell Beach, CA)
Primary Examiner: Wendy Haas
Attorney: Audrey Charles
Application Number: 11/594,391
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Purple, Red-purple, Or Lavender (PLT/329)
International Classification: A01H 5/00 (20060101);