plant named ‘SH 1937’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Saxifraga plant named ‘SH 1937’, characterized by its broadly upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; upper leaf surfaces that are dark green in color with dark purple-colored lobes; freely flowering habit; and purplish red-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane.

Description

Botanical designation: Saxifraga cortusifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SH 1937’.

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Jul. 12, 2022, application number 2022/1717. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Saxifraga plant, botanically known as Saxifraga cortusifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SH 1937’.

The new Saxifraga plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform and strong Saxifraga plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration.

The new Saxifraga plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in October, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia identified as code number 17-212, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and a proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia identified as code number 17-145, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Saxifraga plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in October, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Saxifraga plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since May, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Saxifraga plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Saxifraga have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature 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 ‘SH 1937’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SH 1937’ as a new and distinct Saxifraga plant:

• • 1. Broadly upright and mounded plant habit.
  • 2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
  • 3. Upper leaf surfaces that are dark green in color with dark purple-colored lobes.
  • 4. Freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Purplish red-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Saxifraga differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are purplish red whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are red in color. In addition, leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are darker green in color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Saxifraga differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are purplish red in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are purplish pink in color.

Plants of the new Saxifraga can be compared to plants of Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘SH 1925’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,830. Plants of the new Saxifraga differ primarily from plants of ‘SH 1925’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are purplish red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘SH 1925’ are purplish pink and purplish red bi-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Saxifraga plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Saxifraga plant.

The photograph on the left of the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SH 1937’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the right of the first sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SH 1937’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of the upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘SH 1937’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 4) is a close-up view of the lower surface of a typical leaf of ‘SH 1937’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Saxifraga production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 C to 28 C and night temperatures ranged from 14 C to 20 C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘SH 1937’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia disclosed as code number 17-212, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia disclosed as code number 17-145, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at temperatures about 12 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days at temperatures about 4 C to 15 C.
    • Root description.—Fine to thick, fleshy; typically white to brownish in color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Low amount of branching; sparse.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly upright and mounding plant habit with flowers held above the foliar plane; overall plant shape, flattened globular; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 15.3 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 22 cm.
    • Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 28 cm.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; alternate and single; about twelve basal rosettes per plant.
    • Length.—About 6.5 cm.
    • Width.—About 7.8 cm.
    • Shape.—Reniform in outline; palmately lobed.
    • Apex.—Broadly acute.
    • Base.—Truncate to shallowly hastate, lobes free.
    • Margin.—Shallowly dentate to senate and palmately lobed with about seven to nine lobes per leaf; sinuses shallow to medium in depth and divergent.
    • Texture and luster, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; not rugose; matte to slightly glossy.
    • Texture and luster, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent; not rugose; moderately glossy to glossy.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than a blend of 147A and N189A; at the lobe angles, tinged with close to N186C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B tinged with close to 187C; narrow marginal edges, close to 202A; at the lobe angles, close to 187B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than a blend of NN137A and 147A; lobes tinged with close to N186A; at the lobe angles, tinged with close to N186C; venation, slightly darker than a blend of NN137A and 147A and tinged with close to 200A to 200B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N148B slightly tinged with close to 183C; narrow marginal edges, close to 200A; at the lobe angles, close to 187C; venation, close to 182B to 182C.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 10.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 4.5 mm. Strength: Weak. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 183A. Color, lower surface: Close to 197A.
    • Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two at the base of each petiole. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Reniform with fimbriate apices and margins. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 182B and 182A.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower shape and habit.—Rotate flowers arranged in terminal compound corymbs; freely flowering habit with about 125 flowers per inflorescence and about 900 flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six months after planting; plants flower naturally during the autumn in Germany.
    • Flower longevity on the plant.—About two weeks; flowers persistent.
    • Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Immature petals, close to 63B; immature sepals, close to 183A.
    • Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 25.8 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.3 cm.
    • Flower diameter.—About 2 cm by 2 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.
    • Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six to eight, arranged in a single whorl; upper four to five petals are smaller than lower two to three petals. Length, upper petals: About 5.5 mm to 8 mm. Length, lower petals: About 13 mm to 17 mm. Width, upper petals: About 2.5 mm to 4 mm. Width, lower petals: About 4 mm to 9 mm. Shape, upper petals: Elliptic to narrowly ovate. Shape, lower petals: Narrowly oblong to oblanceolate. Apex, upper petals: Bluntly acute to acute. Apex, lower petals: Bluntly acute to narrowly obtuse, occasionally cleft to praemorse. Base, upper and lower petals: Attenuate. Margin, upper and lower petals: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Color, upper and lower petals: When opening, upper surface: Close to 63B; towards the margins and apices, close to 63A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 70C; towards the margins and apices, close to 71B to 71C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 63B; towards the margins and apices, close to 63A; towards the base, close to 63C; venation, similar to lamina color; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 64B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 63C; towards the margins and the apex, close to 70B; towards the base, close to 63D; venation, similar to lamina colors; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 64D.
    • Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About five arranged in a single whorl; upper petaloids are smaller than lower petaloids. Length, upper petaloids: About 5.5 mm to 8 mm. Length, lower petaloids: About 13 mm to 17 mm. Width, upper petaloids: About 2.5 mm to 4 mm. Width, lower petaloids: About 4 mm to 9 mm. Shape, upper petaloids: Elliptic to narrowly ovate. Shape, lower petaloids: Narrowly oblong to oblanceolate. Apex, upper petaloids: Bluntly acute to acute. Apex, lower petaloids: Bluntly acute to narrowly obtuse. Base, upper and lower petaloids: Attenuate. Margin, upper and lower petaloids: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower petaloids, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Color, upper and lower petaloids: When opening, upper surface: Close to 63B; towards the margins and apices, close to 63A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 70C; towards the margins and apices, close to 71B to 71C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 63B; towards the margins and apices, close to 63A; towards the base, close to 63C; venation, similar to lamina color; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 64B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 63C; towards the margins and the apex, close to 70B; towards the base, close to 63D; venation, similar to lamina colors; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 64D.
    • Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146D; towards the apex and margins, close to 183A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 183A slightly tinged with close to 146B.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 24.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect: About 20 degrees from vertical; secondary peduncles, about 40 degrees from main peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately weak. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 199C; distally, close to 199A; at the nodes, tinged with close to 187B.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Aspect: About 30 degrees from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to N148A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About five. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Double reniform. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 53B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 26C to 26D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About two. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157A. Style length: About 1.8 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to N144D. Floral bracts: Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Obovate and tri-lobed. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Color, upper surface: Darker than a blend of 147A and N189A; narrow marginal edges, close to 202A. Color, lower surface: Darker than N148A strongly tinged with close to 183A. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Saxifraga.
• Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Saxifraga have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −7 C to about 35 C and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8b through 11.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Saxifraga have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Saxifraga plants.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Saxifraga plant named ‘SH 1937’ as illustrated and described.