Geranium plant named ‘Dueline’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueline’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dueline’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Zonal Geranium cultivars with numerous and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2002 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number E-02-09, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z98-4033-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Dueline was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dueline has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dueline’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dueline’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

• • 1. Compact and upright plant habit.
  • 2. Freely basal branching habit.
  • 3. Dark green-colored leaves.
  • 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Semi-double dark pink-colored flowers.
  • 6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have deeper purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Germanium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Blues, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,373. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Blues in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller leaves and shorter petioles than plants of the cultivar Blues.
  • 2. Plants of the Zonal Geranium had smaller flower umbels than plants of the cultivar Blues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueline’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were about two months from planting when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Dueline.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number E-02-09, not patented.
    • Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z98-4033-01, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures of 20° C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • General appearance.—Compact and upright plant habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.
    • Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal branching habit with about three lateral branches developing per plant.
    • Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 22 cm.
    • Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 12 cm.
    • Plant width.—About 23 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.
    • Length.—About 6.6 cm.
    • Width.—About 8.5 cm.
    • Shape.—Reniform.
    • Apex.—Rounded.
    • Base.—Cordate.
    • Margin.—Crenate.
    • Venation pattern.—Palmate.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.
    • Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137B; venation, 144A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 138B; venation, 144A. Zonation pattern: Not observed.
    • Petiole.—Length: About 9.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers persistent. Flowers not fragrant.
    • Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 15 to 20 flowers per umbel.
    • Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In Germany, flowering is continuous from spring throughout the summer.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to seven days on the plant.
    • Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.
    • Umbel diameter.—About 8.3 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 66B to 66C.
    • Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 66A. When opening, lower surface: 66D. Fully opened, upper surface: 66C; venation, close to 66C. Fully opened, lower surface: 66D; venation, close to 66D.
    • Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About two. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 66A. When opening, lower surface: 66D. Fully opened, upper surface: 66C; venation, close to 66C. Fully opened, lower surface: 66D; venation, close to 66D.
    • Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.
    • Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.
    • Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About five to seven. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: 35B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma size: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 66C. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 66C. Ovary color: Close to 145D.
    • Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been observed.
• Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal Geraniums.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Germanium have been observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C., and have demonstrated good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueline’ as illustrated and described.