`Minikin`
A new cultivar of Forsythia named `Minikin` characterized by its small ultimate size, small narrow foliage, small flowers, slow and compact growth habit, excellent propagation from stem cuttings, hardiness, and its fine-textured overall appearance.
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This invention relates to a new variety of Forsythia cv. "Minikin", which is characterized especially by the small size of its leaves, flowers, stems, and internodes, and by its overall small stature.
The new variety was derived as a seedling from a vegetative line of mutants, which had been produced in turn by subjecting rooted cuttings of the parent Forsythia intermedia "Lynwood Gold" (a sport of F. intermedia "Spectabilis") to irradiation with 1,200 rad fast neutrons.
In 1968, three hundred cuttings of "Lynwood Gold" that had been potted and held in cold storage (38.degree. F.) for six weeks and then returned to the greenhouse for two days were irradiated with 1200 rad fast neutrons. One of the plants of this group that broke dormancy formed a shoot with variegated foliage. This plant was cut back repeatedly to induce branching and eventually formed shoots that exhibited different characteristics. Each shoot was propagated by stem cuttings over 10 vegetative generations of selection and propagation. From this plant population two vegetatively selected types and three seedlings were selected. Further propagation and testing of these selections over several more years were shown to be the stable and new forsythia varieties that are the subject of this and four other co-pending plant patent applications; viz:
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Ser. No. Name Type
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272,063 "Lemon-Screen" vegetative selection
273,489 "Tinkle Bells" vegetative selection
271,919 "Minikin" seedling
271,665 "Fairy Land" seedling
271,666 "Pygmy-Red" seedling
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Each differs greatly from the parent "Lynwood Gold" and also from one another.
"Minikin" was selected at the seedling stage because of its small and linear foliage and short internodes. Stem cuttings from this plant have been rooted in soil and asexually propagated, and its progeny have displayed homogeneous and stable characteristics.
Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of the color as used in common speech are aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the new variety in color as grown in Knox County within the State of Tennessee.
FIG. 1 illustrates "Minikin" as a 51/2 year old plant in bloom in March.
FIG. 2 shows flowered cut stems of "Minikin".
FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the flowers of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates the "Minikin" plant in full summer foliage. The white flag is 2.5 inches wide.
FIG. 5 is a closer view of the foliage shown in FIG. 4. The white label is 0.6 inch wide and 5 inches long.
The following characteristics distinguish "Minikin" from its parent and other Forsythia cultivars:
THE PLANT"Minikin" is an attractive, fine textured, densely foliated cultivar, especially suited for container culture; ultimate size of "Minikin" is 2 ft. to 21/2 ft. in height and 3 ft. to 4 ft. wide.
"Minikin" does not require the degree of winter protection required for most container grown genera. It is hardy in Zone 6b or lower. Because of its size and character, "Minikin" is suited for forcing into bloom before the normal flowering season and being sold as a potted floral plant which can be planted in a landscape later. The "Minikin" cultivar exhibits good vigor, but grows slowly. It requires no pruning to maintain its size and shape, except for cosmetic or rejuvenation purposes. It layers naturally and forms abundant seed pods. Its size and texture make it suitable for mass or ground cover use, or as a background plant for flower borders, as well as a specimen plant in a small garden or planter box.
Its parent, "Lynwood Gold", by contrast is tall and slender--a straight upright variety with erect stems and which attains a height of 6 ft. to 71/2 ft. at maturity.
FLOWERThe flowers of "Minikin" are small (1/2" to 3/4" in width) Yellow 9 A in color and there are two to four flowers per node. The "Minikin" flowers are fully reflexed (cup shaped), with four short, recurved petals. Corolla lobes are very small and strongly reflexed. The short pistils are 1/25 in. below the pollen sacs of the stamen. The flowering date is intermediate.
The "Lynwood Gold" parent is fertile and has pistils that extend well above its pollen sacs, is late flowering and its medium sized flowers (about 1" to 11/2" in diameter) are almost evenly spaced on the stem. The flowers of "Lynwood Gold" are brilliant yellow (lighter than its parent, F. Spectabilis). The corolla lobes of "Lynwood Gold" are reflexed and its petals are large, broad open and elliptic.
SHOOTSThe "Minikin" internodes on flowering shoots are only 1/4 in. to 3/4 in. long; and on vegetative shoots the internodes are up to 2 inches long.
"Minikin" stems are light green when young and brownish green when mature. Stems are ascending and strongly lamellate between nodes.
The stems of the "Lynwood Gold" parent are green when young and brown when mature; they are a bit stiff; the pith at the nodes is lamellate, and on one year shoots, the stems between nodes are hollow.
FOLIAGEThe leaves of Minikin are simple, lightly serrate and linear, being acuminate at the tip and attenuate at the base. Young and mature leaves vary from bright green to dark green and in the fall a faded green until leaf drop. Venation is pinnate. The leaf blades on vegetative shoots are only about 1/4 in. wide and 11/2 inches long, attached to a 1/2 in. long slender petiole; the leaves on flowering shoots are smaller.
The leaves of the "Lynwood Gold" parent, on the other hand, are ovate lanceolate in shape and about 3" to 41/2" long and about 1" to 11/2" wide. Both young and old leaves are deep green in color.
To facilitate the comparison of the characteristics and features of "Minikin", the subject of this application, and its parent, "Lynwood Gold" and also with the four other new mutant offspring varieties of "Lynwood Gold" referred to above, there are attached hereto as Tables 1-5 comparative tabulations of the characteristics and properties of parent and its five offspring mutants that were developed from a single irradiated plant of "Lynwood Gold." Table 1 compares "Minikin" and its parent "Lynwood Gold". Table 2 compares "Minikin" and "Pygmy-Red". Table 3 compares "Minikin" and "Tinkle Bells". Table 4 compares "Minikin" and "Lemon-Screen". Table 5 compares "Minikin" and "Fairy Land".
TABLE 1
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Ser. No. 271,919
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MINIKIN
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Plant:
Habit Small stature, fine textured; small
leaves and small stems; densely
foliated
Size, height 2'-21/2'
Size, width 3'-4'
Vigor Good vigor but slow growth
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Layers naturally
Abundant seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young)
Light green
Color (mature)
Brownish green
Rigidity Ascending strongly
lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Bright green to dark green
(mature) Bright green to dark green
(fall) Fading green until leaf drop
Shape Linear
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Lightly serrate
Size:
length On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached to
1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on
flowering shoots
width On vegetative shoots - 1/4";
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed
Color: Yellow (9A)
Corolla: length
lobes strongly reflexed, very small
Petals: number
4: - short and recurved
Pistils: Short; 1/25" below pollen
sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"
Vegetative shoots up to 2")
Stress Resistance:
Doesn't require same degree of winter
protection as most container grown
plants of genre
Utility Aspects:
Blooming can be forced. Especially
suited for container culture.
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LYNWOOD GOLD
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Plant:
Habit Tall, slender-Upright
straight & erect stems
Size, height 6'-71/2'
Size, width
Vigor
Hardiness
Productivity Fertile
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young)
Green
Color (mature)
Brown
Rigidity A bit stiff; pith nodes lamellate; hollow
between nodes on one year shoots
Leaves:
Type
Color:
(young) Deep Green
(mature) Deep Green
(fall)
Shape ovate lanceolate
tip
base
margins
Size:
length 3-41/2"
width 1-11/2"
Venation
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Late
Size: width 1"-11/2" (medium)
Color: Brillant Yellow (lighter than its
parent Spectabilis)
Corolla: length
lobes Reflexed
Petals: number
Large, broad, open
Elliptic
Pistils: Extend well above pollen
sacs (anthers) of stamens
Number per node:
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: Flowers almost evenly spaced on stems
Stress Resistance:
Utility Aspects:
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TABLE 2
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Ser. No. 271,919
MINIKIN
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Plant:
Habit Small stature, fine textured; small
leaves and small stems; densely
foliated
Size, height 2'-21/2'
Size, width 3'-4'
Vigor Good vigor but slow growth
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Layers naturally
Abundant seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) Light green
Color (mature) Brownish green
Rigidity Ascending strongly
lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Bright green to dark green
(mature) Bright green to dark green
(fall) Fading green until leaf drop
Shape Linear
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Lightly serrate
Size:
length On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached
to 1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on
flowering shoots
width On vegetative shoots - 1/4";
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed
Color: Yellow (9A)
Corolla: length
lobes strongly reflexed, very small
Petals: number 4: - short and recurved
Pistils: Short; 1/25" below pollen
sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"
Vegetative shoots up to 2")
Stress Resistance:
Doesn't require same degree of winter
protection as most container grown
plants of genre
Utility Aspects:
Blooming can be forced. Especially
suited for container culture.
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Ser. No. 271,666
PYGMY RED
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Plant:
Habit Low, loose graceful
arching to ground
Size, height 31/2'-41/2'
Size, width 5'-6'
Vigor Good vigor
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Readily roots where branches
touch ground few seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) High anthocyanin
Color (mature) Purple Red (59A)
Rigidity Flexible lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Dark Green
(mature) Dark Green
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon) expressed
in full sun
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed
leaves on vegetative shoots)
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Serrate
Size:
length 2"-21/2" on flowering wood;
to 23/4" on vegatative wood
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering wood;
to 1" on vegetative wood
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 11/4"-11/2 "
Color: Yellow (7A)
Corolla: length
lobes Narrow
Petals: number 4 - sometimes 5
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25" above
pollen sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: 1"-11/2" (11/2" even on
fast growning shoots)
Stress Resistance:
disease and insect
Utility Aspects:
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TABLE 3
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Ser. No. 271,919
MINIKIN
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Plant:
Habit Small stature, fine textured; small
leaves and small stems; densely
foliated
Size, height 2'-21/2'
Size, width 3'-4'
Vigor Good vigor but slow growth
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Layers naturally
Abundant seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) Light green
Color (mature) Brownish green
Rigidity Ascending strongly
lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Bright green to dark green
(mature) Bright green to dark green
(fall) Fading green until leaf drop
Shape Linear
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Lightly serrate
Size:
length On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached
to 1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on
flowering shoots
width On vegetative shoots - 1/4";
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed
Color: Yellow (9A)
Corolla: length
lobes strongly reflexed, very small
Petals: number 4: - short and recurved
Pistils: Short; 1/25" below pollen
sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"
Vegetative shoots up to 2")
Stress Resistance:
Doesn't require same degree of winter
protection as most container grown
plants of genre
Utility Aspects:
Blooming can be forced. Especially
suited for container culture.
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Ser. No. 273,489
TINKLE BELLS
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Plant:
Habit Semi-dwarf; Upright
Size, height 4'-41/2'
Size, width
Vigor Medium vigor
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Does not layer naturally (replicates
from stools (no seed pods observed)
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) Yellow Green
Color (mature) Light brown
Rigidity Sparsely lamellate between
nodes - Rigid
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Medium Green
(mature) Medium Green
(fall) Faded green to yellow
Shape Elliptical
tip Acute on flower shoots
accuminate on vegetative shoots
base
margins serrate on upper 1/3 near tip
Size:
length 2"-3" (with petiole)
width 1/2"
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Early
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" at 45.degree. angle
Color: Bright Yellow (7B)
Corolla: length
1/2" open to 45.degree. angle
lobes not reflexed during prime
Petals: number 4; occasionally 5 or 6
Pistils: short: anthers slightly
below stigma portion of pistil
Number per node:
2; often 4 per node
Insertion angle
buds & flowers pendulous
on upright stems:
Internodes: 1/2"-11/2"
Stress Resistance:
Disease and insect
Utility Aspects:
Can force flowering suitable
for container culture
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TABLE 4
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Ser. No. 271,919
MINIKIN
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Plant:
Habit Small stature, fine textured; small
leaves and small stems; densely
foliated
Size, height 2'-21/2'
Size, width 3'-4'
Vigor Good vigor but slow growth
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Layers naturally
Abundant seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) Light green
Color (mature) Brownish green
Rigidity Ascending strongly
lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Bright green to dark green
(mature) Bright green to dark green
(fall) Fading green until leaf drop
Shape Linear
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Lightly serrate
Size:
length On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached
to 1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on
flowering shoots
width On vegetative shoots - 1/4";
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed
Color: Yellow (9A)
Corolla: length
lobes strongly reflexed, very small
Petals: number 4: - short and recurved
Pistils: Short; 1/25" below pollen
sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"
Vegetative shoots up to 2")
Stress Resistance:
Doesn't require same degree of winter
protection as most container grown
plants of genre
Utility Aspects:
Blooming can be forced. Especially
suited for container culture.
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Ser. No. 272,063
LEMON SCREEN
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Plant:
Habit Tall, open and graceful; Upright,
fan shape; vigorous; open
foliage
Size, height Up to 10'
Size, width Hardy Zone 6b (or lower)
Vigor Vigorous
Hardiness
Productivity Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/
pruned wood branches quickly
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young)
Color (mature) Yellow
Rigidity Slightly lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse
(appear after flowering)
(mature) Normal green (Yellow-Green 144)
whitish blotches
(fall) Greyed Purple 187 B
Shape
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Serrate
Size:
length Not distinguishing
width Not distinguishing
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Early
Size: width 11/2"-13/4"
Color: Yellow (6C)
Corolla: length
lobes Somewhat reflexed
Petals: number 4, sometimes fasciated
Pistils: aborted stamens &/or pistils
Number per node:
4 to 8
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: 1" to 2" long on flowering wood
Stress Resistance:
Summer foliage disease & insect
resistant
Utility Aspects:
Summer pruning leads to shoot
with chartreuse leaves (young)
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TABLE 5
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Ser. No. 271,919
MINIKIN
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Plant:
Habit Small stature, fine textured; small
leaves and small stems; densely
foliated
Size, height 2'-21/2'
Size, width 3'-4'
Vigor Good vigor but slow growth
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Layers naturally
Abundant seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) Light green
Color (mature) Brownish green
Rigidity Ascending strongly
lamellate between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Bright green to dark green
(mature) Bright green to dark green
(fall) Fading green until leaf drop
Shape Linear
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Lightly serrate
Size:
length On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached to
1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on
flowering shoots
width On vegetative shoots - 1/4";
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed
Color: Yellow (9A)
Corolla: length
lobes strongly reflexed, very small
Petals: number 4: - short and recurved
Pistils: Short; 1/25" below pollen
sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"
Vegetative shoots up to 2")
Stress Resistance:
Doesn't require same degree of winter
protection as most container grown
plants of genre
Utility Aspects:
Blooming can be forced. Especially
suited for container culture.
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Ser. No. 271,665
FAIRY LAND
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Plant:
Habit Small overall & fine textured:
Closely spaced flowers & leaves
Dense (young) foliage
Size, height 3'-4'
Size, width 5'-6'
Vigor Good vigor for size
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower)
Productivity Few seed pods
Stems or Shoots:
Color (young) Light green
Color (mature) Brownish green
Rigidity Very flexible lamellate between
nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Medium green (fairly light)
(mature) Medium green (fairly light)
(fall) Mostly faded yellow
Shape Lanceolate
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins On flowering wood; entire
On vegetative wood: serrate top 1/3
Size:
length On flowering wood: 11/2"-21/2"
On vegatative shoots: about 3"
width On flowering wood: 0.2"-0.4"
On vegatative shoots 0.5-0.6"
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Flowering
Intermediate
Size: width 3/4"-11/4"
Color: Yellow (6A)
Corolla: length
lobes Reflexed, small
Petals: number Generally 4-many have 5, 6, 7 and
8 on single corolla
Pistils: Extend 3/25" to 4/25" above pollen
sacs (anthers) of the stamen
Number per node:
2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes: 1/4" to about 1"
Stress Resistance:
Utility Aspects:
Very well suited for
container culture
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Claims
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Forsythia named `Minikin`, substantially as shown and described herein.
- van de Werken (1988), "Mutant Offspring", American Nurseryman, vol. 167, No. 1 (Jan. 1, 1988), pp. 127-132. Fincham, J. R. S., "Ionizing Radiation", Genetics, Jones and Bartlett Pub. Inc., Boston, 1983, pp. 326-333. Decourtye, L. (1978), "Utilisation de la Mutagenese pour l'Obtention de Nouvelles Varietes d'Arbustes Ornementaux", Comptes Rendus des Seances de l'Academie d'Agriculture de France, vol. 64 (8), pp. 664-669. "Arnoldia," vol. 31, No. 2, The Arnold Arboretum, Mar. 1971, pp. 41-63. "Flowering Shrubs," Zucker, Isabel, 1966, D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., p. 380. "Hilliers Manual of Trees & Shrubs," 2nd American Edition, Hilliers & Sons Ltd., 1979, A. S. Barnes & Co., Cranbury, N.J., p. 575. "Hortus Third, A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada," Staff of L. H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, 1976, MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, N.Y., p. 1290. "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants--Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Propagation and Uses," Dirr, Michael A., 1983, Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, Ill., p. 826.
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 16, 1988
Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
Assignee: The University of Tennessee Research Corporation (Knoxville, TN)
Inventor: Hendrik van de Werken (Knoxville, TN)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Attorney: William H. Elliott, Jr.
Application Number: 7/271,919
International Classification: A01H 500;
