plant named ‘Kerannasun’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Primula elatior plant named ‘KERANNASUN’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant, bright yellow double flowers, borne on umbels. This combination of large double flowers on a Polyanthus type Primula is a novelty. Plants are compact, and flowers are sterile. The new variety is a Primula elatior, suitable for outdoor landscape and container use.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species:

Primula elatior.

Variety denomination:

‘KERANNASUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program under the direction of the inventors. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Primula cultivars with abundant double flowers for commercial ornamental purposes. The new cultivar resulted from crossing of the seed parent, an unpatented, unnamed, proprietary variety of Primula, and the pollen parent, a different unnamed, unpatented, proprietary variety of Primula. The crossing resulting in the new variety was made in April of 2014 at a research greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Selection of the new variety ‘Kerannasun’ was made in March of 2015, by the inventors at a research greenhouse located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KERANNASUN’ was first performed in Cambridge, the United Kingdom during May of 2015, by tissue culture. This and subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KERANNASUN’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘KERANNASUN’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KERANNASUN’ as a new and distinct Primula cultivar:

• • 1. Double flowers.
  • 2. Bright yellow flower color.
  • 3. Abundant flowering.
  • 4. Flowers borne on umbels.
  • 5. Compact plant habit.

PARENT COMPARISONS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERANNASUN’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following ways:

• • 1. New cultivar has double flowers; seed parent is single flowered.
  • 2. New variety is sterile; seed parent is fertile.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERANNASUN’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following ways:

• • 1. New cultivar has double flowers; pollen parent is single flowered.
  • 2. New variety is sterile; pollen parent is fertile.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISONS

Plants of the new variety can be compared to plants of the Primula cultivar ‘Pollyanna Fresh Lemon’, unpatented. Plants of the new Primula differed from plants of the cultivar ‘Pollyanna Fresh Lemon’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Flower color of the new variety is a deeper, brighter yellow than flower color of this comparator.
  • 2. Pedicels of ‘Pollyanna Fresh Lemon’ are shorter than pedicels of ‘Kerannasun’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘KERANNASUN’ grown in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom, in a glass-covered greenhouse. This plant was about 7 months old when the photographs were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5° to 15° C. and night temperatures ranged from 2° to 12°C.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of a typical flower of ‘KERANNASUN’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘KERANNASUN’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 1.5° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 1.5° C. to 15° C. No chemical or photoperiodic treatments were given. Measurements were taken during Spring and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

• Botanical classification: Primula elatior ‘KERANNASUN’.
• Age of the Plant Described: Approximately 4 to 5 months in an 11 cm pot.

PROPAGATION

• Method: Tissue culture.
• Time to Produce a Rooted Plant: About 6 weeks.
• Root Description: Fibrous, colored nearest RHS White 155A.

PLANT

• Plant Form/Habit: Compact with flowers borne on umbels above foliage.
• Height: 17 cm.
• Plant Spread: 25 cm.
• Branching Characteristics: No branches, foliage emerges basally.
• Vigor: Vigorous.

FOLIAGE

• Leaf:
  • • Arrangement.—Basal, simple.
    • Length.—17 cm.
    • Width.—6 cm.
    • Shape.—Oblanceolate.
    • Apex.—Obtuse.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Slightly crenate, irregular, slightly undulating.
    • Texture of top surface.—Rugose.
    • Texture of bottom surface.—Rugose with prominent venation.
    • Color.—Developing foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Developing foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A and 144B, both colors present individually. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A.
    • Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green N148C. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green N148D.
• Petiole:
  • • Length.—1.25 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.75 cm.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green N148C. Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green N148D.
    • Texture upper surfaces.—Glabrous.
    • Texture lower surfaces.—Pubescent.

FLOWER

• Bloom Period: Recurrent flowering during the Spring under United Kingdom outdoor conditions.
• Flower Type: Umbel.
• Habit: Rounded double flowers borne on strong upright flower stems; flowers face upright and outward.
• Persistent or Self-Cleaning: Persistent.
• Fragrance: Slight floral scent as typical of species.
• Flowers per Inflorescence: 8 to 24 flowers and buds per umbel. 6 to 7 flower stems per plant.
• Inflorescence Size:
  • • Height.—Average 13 cm.
    • Diameter.—Average 14 cm.
• Flower Bud:
  • • Height.—1.4 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.7 cm.
    • Shape.—Ovoid.
    • Texture.—Glabrous.
    • Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 145B.
• Individual Flower:
  • • Diameter.—4.5 cm.
    • Depth.—2.2 cm.
• Petals:
  • • Quantity.—39 to 48 per flower, in several concentric whorls.
    • Length (including tube).—3 cm.
    • Width.—1.7 cm.
    • Shape.—Obcordate.
    • Apex.—Emarginate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous.
    • Color.—Developing petals, upper surface: Nearest RHS Yellow 9A. Developing petals, lower surface: Nearest RHS Yellow 9A. Mature petals, upper surface: Nearest RHS Yellow 9A. Mature petals, lower surface: RHS Yellow 9A.
• Sepals:
  • • Quantity.—5 in a single whorl; fused at base.
    • Length.—1.7 cm.
    • Width.—0.5 cm.
    • Shape.—Rhomboid.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture upper surfaces.—Glabrous.
    • Texture lower surfaces.—Glabrous.
    • Color, upper surface.—RHS Yellow-Green 146A.
    • Color, lower surface.—RHS Yellow-Green 146B.
• Peduncle:
  • • Length.—12 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.7 cm.
    • Orientation.—Upright.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 148B.
    • Texture.—Pubescent.
• Pedicel:
  • • Length.—4.5 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.2 cm.
    • Orientation.—Upwards and outwards.
    • Strength.—Fairly strong.
    • Color.—RHS Grey-Yellow N148B.
    • Texture.—Slightly pubescent.
• Bracts:
  • • Quantity.—One.
    • Length.—0.6 cm.
    • Width.—0.1 cm.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Shape.—Narrow lanceolate.
    • Color.—RHS Yellow-Green N148A.
    • Texture.—Glabrous.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

• Development of reproductive organs has not been observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

• Disease and Pest Resistance: Plants of the new Primula have not been noted to be resistant nor susceptible to pathogens and pests common to Primula.
• Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Primula have been observed to have tolerated temperatures from about -5° to 28° C.
• Fruit/Seed Production: Fruit and seed production not observed; flowers are sterile.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Primula plant named ‘KERANNASUN’ as herein illustrated and described.