Carnation plant

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of carnation plant, of maize yellow flower color, improved production and disease resistance qualities, reduction in tendency of calyx to burst and cause splits as flowers open fully, which was originated by me by crossing numbered but unnamed and unpatented seedlings.

Description

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Carnation Plant which I designate as Jaunita or the numerals 2128 which was originated by me in my commercial nursery at Encinitas, Calif. by cross-breeding numbered but unnamed and unpatented seedlings.

The primary objectives of this breeding have been to produce a carnation cultivar having improved disease resistance and production qualities, along with distinctive flower color, size and form, as well as less tendency of the calyx to burst and cause "splits" as the flowers open fully, which is so typical of the species botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus. These objectives have been fully achieved, together with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of principal characteristics which are outstanding in my new cultivar, Jaunita and which distinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other carnations of which I am aware:

1. A very vigorous and free-breaking plant habit with strong and straight stems;

2. Superior resistance to soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. roseum and rots such as damping off, water molds, and the like;

3. Small serrated flowers which open fully without bursting the calyx and causing "splits";

4. A distinctive and attractive yellow flower color which in cool weather has a marginal splash of pink.

Asexual reproduction of my new carnation variety by side shoot cuttings rooted in peat and "Perlite" under mist, as performed under my direction and control at Encinitas, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

The accompanying drawing illustrates typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of my new carnation in different stages of development and is depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new carnation cultivar, Jaunita with color terminology in accordance with Robert Ridgway's Color Standards and Nomenclature (1912 edition), except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are appropriate and definitive.

PLANT

Botanical classification; Dianthus caryophyllus.

Breeding:

Female parent.--My designation #1982 an unnamed seedling (unpatented).

Male parent.--My designation #1877 an unnamed seedling (unpatented).

Form: Erect but free-branching, angle of side bud to stem 30.degree..

Growth: Thrifty, strong growth.

Classification: Greenhouse type, suitable for cut flower production as spray carnation (terminal removed and flowering side buds).

Propagation: Holds its distinguishing characteristics through succeeding propagations by rooted cuttings.

Locality where grown and observed: Encinitas, Calif.

Disease resistance: The new cultivar has shown no evidence of Fusarium or other rots, as determined by extensive tests in highly infested soils inoculated with as many strains of fungi as are locally available in the area of Encinitas, Calif.; tests were conducted without chemical or steam sterilization of the soil, and in soils in which the carnation plant "Sim" and others soon die.

Temperature tolerance: Not hardy to cold, but grows best at temperature above 10.degree. C.; has good resistance to hot weather in summer months of August and September at Encinitas, Calif., without hardening of growth and with only little reduction of flower size and little flower fading; no marked fading of outer flower petals even when bloom is past maturity.

Blooming period: Blooms under both long and short photo-periods.

Height: First crop 45 cm., other crops 50 cm.

BUD

Lobes of calyx overlap in tight bud and seldom split.

Length: 2.5 cm.

Diameter: 1.5 cm.

Color: Maize yellow, plate IV, 19 YO-Y with a splash of hermosa pink, plate I, 1. red.

PEDUNCLE

Strength: Strong.

Color: Leaf green, plate XLI, 29" GG-Y.

BLOOM

Size: Diameter 5 cm., depth 2 cm.

Stem: Consists of 9 nodes. Length is from about 45 cm. Diameter is from about 0.6 cm. at base and about 0.2 cm. at base of calyx.

Color.--Leaf green, plate XLI, 29" GG-Y.

Form: Open, flat, crowned.

Petalage: From 40-45 petals. Outer petals are about 2.0 cm. wide and about 4.0 cm. long. Center petals are about 1.2 cm. wide and about 3.0 cm. long.

Color: The center of flower, outer petals, base of petals, inside of petals and reverse of petals are all maize yellow, plate IV, 19 YO-Y.

General tonality.--Splash of hermosa pink, plate I, 1 red on margin of petals in cool weather.

Petals: Texture is soft.

Form.--Petal about 30.degree. of a circle, shallow irregular serrations, 5 to the cm.

Opening.--Normal with minimum of split calyxes.

Fragrance: No distinctive fragrance.

FOLIAGE

Form; Flat to concave.

Size: 1 cm. wide, 13.5 cm. long.

Quantity: Two leaves per node, with nodes spaced about to 6.5 cm. apart.

Color: The upper and under sides of both young and mature plants are all leaf green, plate XLI, 29" GG-Y.

Texture: Smooth.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of carnation plant designated Jaunita substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of a very vigorous and free-breaking plant habit, and strong and straight stems; superior resistance to soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. roseum, and rots such as damping off and water molds, small serrated flowers which open fully without bursting the calyx and causing "splits"; a distinctive and attractive maize yellow flower color which fades evenly and beautifully; and good heat tolerance which is superior to that of the parent lines and the variety known as "Sim".