Aspen tree named ‘KMN01’
A new and distinct variety of quaking or trembling aspen named ‘KMN01’ that is characterized by orange to red leaf coloration in the fall-season, an upright branching habit, and disease resistance to Venturia leaf and shoot blight. Additionally the new variety is seedless, its spring new growth is bronze to red in coloration, and it has bright white bark.
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The quaking aspen tree variety of this invention is botanically identified as Populus tremuloides.
Variety denomination: The variety denomination is ‘KMN01’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a new and distinct seedless plant variety of Populus tremuloides, more commonly known as Trembling Aspen or Quaking Aspen, having orange to red fall-season leaf coloration, an upright branching habit, and disease resistance to Venturia leaf and shoot blight.
Trembling Aspen is a deciduous tree with extensive distribution throughout North America. Its adaptation to a variety of soil conditions and elevations contributes to its broad market appeal and utilization where it is a popular landscape feature. Aspen trees encompass a number of similar species that are aesthetically appealing for their fall-season leaf coloration, which typically ranges from yellow to gold. An additional aesthetic feature is the “quaking” sound arising from the wind moving across the flattened petioles. Trembling Aspen are also used in forest reclamation areas, quickly taking root after fires. At which time, they provide habitat while slower growing evergreens repopulate. Trembling Aspen are highly susceptible to Venturia leaf and shoot blight.
The new variety, in contrast, demonstrates disease resistance to Venturia leaf and shoot blight. It also differs from the more prevalent commercially available aspen wherein ‘KMN01’ demonstrates orange to red fall-season leaf coloration and its new spring growth is bronze to red in color. This coloration provides a unique aesthetic value to landscaped areas. Typical of the species, the expected maximum height is 25.0 meters, with a lifespan of fifty to sixty years.
‘KMN01’, discovered and asexually propagated by the inventor, was selected from a cultivated nursery field located in Bonners Ferry, Id. in April 2004. Discovered among a field of unsold Populus tremuloides and likely a result of open pollination, ‘KMN01’ demonstrated a whiter bark, upright form, and leaves that appeared uncharacteristic of the surrounding trees. The specimen was uprooted and replanted in the inventor's residential yard in Bonners Ferry, where it was observed for a number of years. ‘KMN01’ maintained its upright form without any pruning. ‘KMN01’ has a fall-season coloration transitioning from green, to yellow, to orange, and in some years, red.
In April 2011, after observing the consistent presentation of characteristics that were originally selected for, the inventor planted 200 seedlings of Populus tremuloides. Then in August of the same year, the inventor budded all 200 aspen with the buds from the discovered plant ‘KMN01’. By August 2012, one hundred and sixty of the budded aspen were four to eight feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters) tall. Further to this successful propagation, the inventor budded an additional 300 ramjets from the discovered ‘KMN01’. This testing and repeated propagation demonstrated that the distinct characteristics herein are true to type and transmissible by asexual reproduction with uniformity and stability.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe following traits represent the characteristics of the new variety ‘KMN01’. These traits in combination distinguish this variety from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor.
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- 1. Orange to red fall color;
- 2. Upright branching habit;
- 3. Disease resistance to Venturia leaf and shoot blight;
- 4. Spring new growth is bronze to red in coloration;
- 5. Bright white bark; and
- 6. The variety is seedless.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for and ‘KMN01’ has not been offered for sale more than a year before the filing date of this application. ‘KMN01’ has not been promoted under any other breeder's reference or cultivar name.
Plants of ‘KMN01’ have not been observed under all possible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions, for example, with fluctuation in temperature, soil chemistry, and photoperiod without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations and characteristic data disclosed were collected in the Spring of 2014 in Bonners Ferry, Id. unless otherwise indicated.
The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall, typical appearance of the new and distinct aspen tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of conventional photography. Due to color variation reproduced in the photographs, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than a reliance on the photographs alone. Photographs are taken over a number of years and include the originally discovered tree as well as ramets at one and two years. The different photographs are intended to represent the distinctive characteristics of ‘KMN01’.
The following is a detailed description of the new variety ‘KMN01’. Data was collected from a plant approximately two years-old and from three year-old rootstock in the Spring (April) 2014. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England), except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used and color readings were observed under natural, outdoor light.
Parent One, a commercially available, unpatented and unnamed variety of Populus tremuloides, producing seed and presenting branching angles of 55 degrees with serrate leaf blade margins. In contrast, ‘KMN01’ is seedless, is more upright in form, with a branching angle of 27 degrees, and has sinuate to serrate leaf blade margins.
Parent Two is unknown; therefore, no comparison can be made.
The commercially available Populus tremuloides named ‘Driefest’ (unpatented) produces seed, has a silver bark color and a branch angle from the stem at 16 degrees. In contrast, ‘KMN01’ is seedless, has white bark color and a branching angle from stem at 27 degrees.
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of Populus tremuloides having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 10, 2014
Date of Patent: Sep 20, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20150359152
Inventor: Kevin Earl Merrifield (Bonners Ferry, ID)
Primary Examiner: Keith Robinson
Application Number: 14/120,618