ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT This invention was supported in part by funds from the U.S. Government pursuant to Grant No. FLA-FOR-04168 from USDA CSREES. The U.S. Government therefore has certain rights in the invention.
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Eucalyptus grandis.
Variety denomination: ‘G5’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Eucalyptus, botanically known as Eucalyptus grandis, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘G5’. It is characterized by having a fast growth rate, average frost tolerance, and good coppicing properties when grown under normal forestry practices in southern Florida.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘G5’ originated from over 1,600 seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis. ‘G5’ is the result of open-pollination in a fourth-generation seedling seed orchard at Palmdale, Fla. The female (seed) parent of ‘G5’ is the proprietary Eucalyptus grandis seedling selection with the identification number ‘3242’, not patented, characterized by its fast growth and average frost tolerance. The male (pollen) parent of ‘G5’ is unknown. The maternal parent (‘3242’) originated from open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of ‘3242’ is the proprietary Eucalyptus grandis seedling selection with the identification number ‘1065’, not patented, characterized by its good growth and acceptable frost tolerance. The male (pollen) parent of ‘3242’ is unknown. ‘G5’ was selected as a single tree from the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during March 2004.
‘G5’ was first propagated in June of 2008 in Apopka, Fla. through cuttings and in vitro propagation. Asexually propagated trees of ‘G5’ have remained true to the original selected tree, and all characteristics of the tree have been transmitted and retained through three successive asexual vegetative generations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for. ‘G5’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.
‘G5’ differs from the female parent ‘3242’ by having faster growth, better frost tolerance, and good coppicing properties.
Commercial varieties: E.nergy™ series eucalyptus cultivars ‘G1’, ‘G2’, ‘G3’, and ‘G4’ may be compared with eucalyptus cultivar ‘G5’ (see Table 1).
TABLE 1
Comparison of Eucalyptus grandis Cultivars
‘G1’, ‘G2’, ‘G3’, ‘G4’, and ‘G5’
Cultivar
G1a G2a G3a
Tree:
Size: Height (m) 12.6 ~15 ~16
Size: DBH (Diam-
eter in cm at 4.5′)
Size: Spread (m) ~4 ~3 ~3
Vigor: Average Good Good
Density: Open Open Open
Form (overall Good Good Good
shape of tree):
Growth habit Evergreen Evergreen Evergreen
(current season):
Trunk and
Branches:
Trunk texture: top Smooth Smooth Smoother
Trunk texture: base Rough Smooth Smooth
Trunk upper bark Mottled grey- Mottled grey, Mottled grey,
color: brown brown, green brown, green
Trunk lower bark Mottled grey- Mottled grey, Mottled grey,
color: brown brown, green brown, green
Branch texture: Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous
Branch color: Green Green Green, Reddish
Leaves:
Size (lamina aver- 10-20 10-20 10-16
age): Length (cm)
Size (lamina aver- 1.5-3.0 1.5-2.5 1.5-2.5
age): Width (cm)
Type: Simple, petiolate, Simple, peti- Simple, petiolate,
alternate, olate, alternate, alternate,
persistent persistent persistent
Shape: Narrow Narrow Narrow
lanceolate, lanceolate, lanceolate,
slightly sickle slightly sickle slightly sickle
shaped shaped shaped
Apex: Acuminate Acuminate Acuminate
Base: Acute, can be Acute, can be Acute, can be
slightly slightly slightly
unequilateral unequilateral unequilateral
Margin: Smooth Smooth, Wavy Smooth, Wavy
Surface texture: Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous
Upper
Surface texture: Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous
Lower
Color: Upper Dark green (RHS Green (RHS Green (RHS
Green group Green group Green group
126C) 126C) 136B)
Color: Lower Light green Green (RHS Green (RHS
(RHS Green Green group Green group
group 124B) 127B) 136C)
Petiole: Shape Slightly Slightly Slightly
flattened, flattened, flattened,
groove at top groove at top groove at top
Petiole: Length 1.5-2.5 1.5-2.0 1.5-2.5
(cm)
Petiole: Width 1-2 1-2 1-2
(mm)
Petiole: Upper Pale green (RHS Pale green Pale green
Color Yellow-Green (RHS Yellow- (RHS Yellow-
group 144D) Green group Green group
144D) 144D)
Petiole: Lower Pale green (RHS Pale green Pale green
Color Yellow-Green (RHS Yellow- (RHS Yellow-
group 144D) Green group Green group
144D) 144D)
Petiole: Texture Smooth Smooth Smooth
Flowers:
Age at First 2+ 2+ 2+
Flowering: (years)
Flower Fragrance: Mild Mild Mild
Flower Type: Clustered Clustered Clustered
Flower 7 7 7
Buds/Cluster:
Stamen: Number Many Many Many
Anther Filament: <1 ~1 ~1
Length (cm)
Anther: Color White White White
Pistil: Number 1 1 1
Pistil: Length (cm) <1 <1 <1
Bloom Season mid-July- late July-mid- mid-August-
October September late-October
Reproductive
Organs:
Fruit/seed (if
produced):
Capsules/Cluster 3-7 3-7 3-7
Capsule: Size 5-7 × 5-6 5-7 × 5-6 5-7 × 5-6
(mm)
Capsule: Shape Pyriform Pyriform Pyriform
Capsule: Texture Smooth Woody Smooth Woody Smooth Woody
Capsule: Color Green-brown Green-brown Green-brown
Capsule Stalk: Short Short Short
Length
Resistance/toler-
ance to
Diseases/pests:
Blue Gum Chalcid No Yes Yes
Coppice:
Ability High High High
Stems/Stool 3-5 1-2 3-5
Cultivar
G4a G5b
Tree:
Size: Height (m) ~16 ~15.4
Size: DBH (Diameter 18.3
in cm at 4.5′)
Size: Spread (m) ~3 ~3
Vigor: Good Good
Density: Open Open
Form (overall shape of Good Straight Stem, Slightly
tree): Drooping Branches
Growth habit Evergreen Evergreen
(current season):
Trunk and Branches:
Trunk texture: top Smoother Smooth
Trunk texture: base Smooth rough
Trunk upper bark Mottled grey, pink Moderate yellow
color: (RHS 161A) to Pale
green (RHS 160C)
Trunk lower bark Mottled grey, pink Grayish reddish
color: orange (RHS 176D to
RHS 177D)
Branch texture: Glabrous Glabrous
Branch color: Grey, Reddish Moderate yellow
(RHS 160A)
Leaves:
Size (lamina average): 10-15 13-13.5
Length (cm)
Size (lamina average): 2 4.2-5.0
Width (cm)
Type: Simple, petiolate, Simple, petiolate,
alternate, persistent alternate, persistent
Shape: Narrow lanceolate, Lanceolate, slightly
slightly sickle shaped sickle shaped, slightly
offcenter midrib
Apex: Acuminate Acuminate
Base: Typically acute, can Acute, can be slightly
be slightly unequi- unequilateral
lateral, slightly
offcenter midrib
Margin: Smooth, Wavy Smooth
Surface texture: Upper Glabrous glabrous
Surface texture: Lower Glabrous glabrous
Color: Upper Green Strong yellow green
(RHS 143A)
Color: Lower Pale Green Strong yellow green
(RHS 143C)
Petiole: Shape Slightly flattened Slightly flattened
groove at top
Petiole: Length (cm) 1-2 1.5-2.5
Petiole: Width (mm) 1-2 1-2
Petiole: Upper Color Light green-Pink Deep orangish yellow
(RHS 163A)
Petiole: Lower Color Light green-Pink Deep orangish yellow
(RHS 163C)
Petiole: Texture Smooth Smooth
Flowers: Not Observed
Age at First Flowering: 2+ 4+
(years)
Flower Fragrance: Mild Not Observed
Flower Type: Clustered Not Observed
Flower Buds/Cluster: 7 Not Observed
Stamen: Number Many Not Observed
Anther Filament: ~1 Not Observed
Length (cm)
Anther: Color White Not Observed
Pistil: Number 1 Not Observed
Pistil: Length (cm) <1 Not Observed
Bloom Season mid-September- Not Observed
late-October
Reproductive Organs: Not Observed
Fruit/seed (if Not Observed
produced):
Capsules/Cluster 3-7 Not Observed
Capsule: Size (mm) 5-7 × 5-8 Not Observed
Capsule: Shape Pyriform Not Observed
Capsule: Texture Smooth Woody Not Observed
Capsule: Color Green-brown Not Observed
Capsule Stalk: Length Short Not Observed
Resistance/tolerance
to Diseases/pests:
Blue Gum Chalcid Yes Yes
Coppice:
Ability High Not Observed
Stems/Stool 3-5 Not Observed
a13-year-old trees near Ft Meade, FL, and 2-year-old trees near Winter Garden, FL.
b4.2-year-old trees near Winter Garden, FL.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This new eucalyptus tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the tree's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of trees approximately 2 to 3.5-years old.
FIG. 1. Shows overall plant habit including foliage of a 3.5-year-old tree.
FIG. 2. Shows overall plant habit including foliage of 2-year-old trees.
FIG. 3. Shows a close-up of the bark of a 3.5-year-old tree.
FIG. 4. Shows a close-up of the bark of a 2-year-old tree.
FIG. 5. Shows upper branches of a 3.5-year-old tree.
FIG. 6. Shows mature leaves of a 2-year-old tree.
FIG. 7. Shows a close-up of mature leaves of a 2-year-old tree.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘G5’. The present botanical description is that of 2-year-old trees growing near Winter Garden, Fla. The colors (except those in common terms) are described from R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (second edition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland.
Phenotypic Description of Eucalyptus grandis var. ‘G5’
- Classification:
-
- Botanical.—Eucalyptus grandis var. ‘G5’.
- Common name.—Eucalyptus.
- Parentage:
-
- Female parent.—‘3242’, not patented.
- Male parent.—Unknown.
- Tree:
-
- Size.—Height — ˜10 m, Spread — ˜3 m.
- Vigor.—Average.
- Density.—Open.
- Form (overall shape of tree).—Straight stem with slightly drooping branches.
- Growth habit (current season).—Evergreen.
- Trunk and branches:
-
- Trunk diameter.—18.3 cm at 4.5 feet above the ground.
- Trunk texture.—Smooth at top, rough at base.
- Trunk upper bark color.—Moderate yellow (RHS 161A) to Pale green (RHS 160C).
- Trunk lower bark color.—Grayish reddish orange (RHS 176D to RHS 177D).
- Branch texture.—Glabrous.
- Branch color.—Moderate yellow (RHS 160A).
- Leaves:
-
- Size (lamina average).—Length — 10-14 cm, Width 2.0-3.5 cm.
- Type.—Simple, petiolate, alternate, persistent.
- Shape.—Lanceolate, slightly sickle shaped, slightly off-center midrib.
- Apex.—Acuminate.
- Base.—Acute, can be slightly unequilateral.
- Margin.—Smooth.
- Surface texture.—Upper — glabrous, Lower — glabrous.
- Color.—Upper — RHS 132B (Strong green), Lower — RHS 124B (Light green).
- Petiole.—Shape: Slightly flattened. Length: 1.5-2.5 cm. Width: 1-2 mm. Color: RHS 11D (Pale yellow). Texture: Smooth.
- Flowers: No flowering has been observed.
- Reproductive organs: No organs observed.
- Fruit/seed (if produced): No fruit/seed observed.
- Resistance/tolerance to diseases/pests: No unusual susceptibilities noted.
