Forsythia plant named `Pygmy-Red`
A new cultivar of Forsythia named `Pygmy-Red` characterized by its small shrub size, its narrow foliage, and the distinct red color of its currently matured shoots.
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This invention relates to a new cultivar of Forsythia named "Pygmy-Red", which is characterized especially by its low growth habit, its narrow leaves, and the red color of current shoots at maturity.
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 parent "Lynwood Gold" (a sport of F. intermedia "Spectabilis").
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.
"Pygmy-Red" was selected at the seedling stage because of its distinct foliage form and growth characteristics. The seedling showed good growth characteristics in the field, a distinct red coloration in mature current year shoots, and maroon fall color on the upper side of the leaves. 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 "Pygmy-Red" in spring bloom. The measuring stick is set on the ground and is 4 ft. long.
FIG. 2 shows lowered cut stems.
FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the flowers of FIG. 2 which also illustrates the red color of the currently matured shoots.
FIG. 4 illustrates the "Pygmy-Red" plant in May foliage.
FIG. 5 is a closer view of the foliage shown in FIG. 4.
The following characteristics distinguish "Pygmy-Red" from its parent and other Forsythia cultivars:
THE PLANT"Pygmy-Red" has a low growth habit. The plant form is loose, but graceful, some branches bending to the ground and rooting where they touch the soil. The plant is a hardy (to Zone 6b or lower), shows good vigor but develops few seed pods. It is a flowering shrub, blooming readily when used for forcing into flower in a greenhouse and suitable for containers. The ultimate size of "Pygmy-Red" is about 31/2 to 41/2 ft. in height and 5 ft. to 6 ft. wide. The size of "Pygmy-Red" makes it particularly useful for road median planting, small visual and physical landscape screens and barriers, or for mass planting in parks. The plant requires minimal pruning and has disease and insect-resistant foliage.
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.
FLOWER"Pygmy-Red" flowers at an intermediate stage. The yellow flowers (Yellow 6A in color) are 11/4 in. to 11/2 in. diameter and generally have four, but sometimes five, petals. The corolla lobes are narrow. The pistils extend 2/25 in. to 3/25 in. above the pollen sacs of the stamen. The plant produces two flowers per node on the flowering wood, which has internodes 1/2 in. to 11/2 in. in length.
SHOOTSThe currently matured Pygmy-Red shoots have a distinct red color (Purple Red 59 A); high anthocyanin pigmentation of the mature current shoots is also expressed in the maroon fall color of the foliage when the plant is grown with full exposure to direct sunlight. The shoots are lamellate between nodes, flexible, bending to touch the ground, which leads to self-propagation by layering.
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 "Pygmy-Red" leaves are dark green in color when both young and mature. The leaves are simple, serrate and lanceolate, being acuminate at the tip and attenuate at the base, 0.3 in. to 0.4 in. wide and 2 in. to 21/2 in. long on flowering wood. The leaves on vegetative shoots are somewhat larger, up to 1 in. wide and 23/4 in. long. Venation is pinnate. Few, if any, lobed leaves occur on vegetative shoots, as often occurs with other Forsythia cultivars. Even on fast growing vegetative shoots, the internodes are less than 11/2 in. long.
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 "Pygmy-Red", 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 "Pygmy-Red" and its parent "Lynwood Gold". Table 2 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Fairy-Land". Table 3 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Tinkle Bells". Table 4 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Minikin". Table 5 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Lemon Screen".
TABLE 1
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S/N: 271,666
PYGMY RED LYNWOOD GOLD
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Plant:
Habit Low, loose graceful
Tall, slender-Upright
arching to ground
straight & erect stems
Size, height
31/2'-41/2' 6'-71/2'
Size, width
5'-6'
Vigor Good vigor
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b
(or lower)
Productivity
Readily roots where
Fertile
branches touch
ground few seed pods
Stems:
Color (young)
High anthocyanin
Green
Color (mature)
Purple Red (59 A)
Brown
Rigidity Flexible lamellate
A bit stiff;
between nodes pith nodes lamellate;
hollow between nodes
on one year shoots
Leaves:
Type Simple
Color:
(young) Dark Green Deep Green
(mature) Dark Green Deep Green
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon)
expressed in full sun
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed
ovate lanceolate
leaves on vegetative
shoots)
tip Accuminate
base Attenuate
margins Serrate
Size:
length 2"-21/2" on flowering
3-41/2"
wood; to 23/4" on
vegatative wood
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering
1-11/2"
wood; to 1" on
vegetative wood
Venation Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Intermediate Late
Flowering
Size: width
11/4"-11/2" 1"-11/2" (medium)
Color: Yellow (7A) Brillant Yellow
(lighter than its
parent Spectabilis)
Corolla:
length
lobes Narrow Reflexed
Petals: number
4 - sometimes 5
Large, broad, open
Elliptic
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25"
Extend well above
above pollen sacs of
pollen sacs (anthers)
stamens of stamens
Number per node:
2
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes:
1"-11/2" (11/2" even on
Flowers almost
fast growing shoots)
evenly spaced
on stems
Stress Resistance:
disease and insect
Utility Aspects:
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TABLE 2
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S/N: 271,666 S/N 271,665
PYGMY RED FAIRY LAND
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Plant:
Habit Low, loose graceful
Small overall & fine
arching to ground
textured:
Closely spaced
flowers & leaves
Dense (young) foliage
Size, height
31/2'-41/2' 3'-4'
Size, width
5'-6' 5'-6'
Vigor Good vigor Good vigor for size
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b Zone 6b (or lower)
(or lower)
Productivity
Readily roots where
Few seed pods
branches touch
ground few seed pods
Stems:
Color (young)
High anthocyanin
Light green
Color (mature)
Purple Red (59 A)
Brownish green
Rigidity Flexible lamellate
Very flexible lamellate
between nodes between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple Simple
Color:
(young) Dark Green Medium green (fairly
light)
(mature) Dark Green Medium green (fairly
light)
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon)
Mostly faded yellow
expressed in full sun
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed
Lanceolate
leaves on vegetative
shoots)
tip Accuminate Accuminate
base Attenuate Attenuate
margins Serrate On flowering wood;
entire
On vegetative wood:
serrate top 1/3
Size:
length 2"-21/2" on flowering
On flowering wood:
wood; to 23/4" on
11/2"-21/2"
vegatative wood
On vegatative shoots:
about 3"
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering
On flowering wood:
wood; to 1" on 0.2"-0.4"
vegetative wood
On vegatative shoots
0.5-0.6"
Venation Pinnate Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Intermediate Intermediate
Flowering
Size: width
11/4"-11/2" 3/4"-11/4"
Color: Yellow (7A) Yellow (6 A)
Corolla:
length
lobes Narrow Reflexed, small
Petals: number
4 - sometimes 5
Generally 4-many
have 5, 6, 7 and 8 on
single corolla
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25"
Extend 3/25" to 4/25"
above pollen sacs of
above pollen sacs
stamens (anthers) of the
stamen
Number per node:
2 2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes:
1"-11/2" (11/2" even on
1/4" to about 1"
fast growing shoots)
Stress Resistance:
disease and insect
Utility Aspects: Very well suited for
container culture
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TABLE 3
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S/N: 271,666 S/N 273,489
PYGMY RED TINKLE BELLS
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Plant:
Habit Low, loose graceful
Semi-dwarf; Upright
arching to ground
Size, height
31/2'-41/2' 4'-41/2'
Size, width
5'-6'
Vigor Good vigor Medium vigor
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b Hardy Zone 6b
(or lower) (or lower)
Productivity
Readily roots where
Does not layer
branches touch naturally (replicates
ground few seed pods
from stools (no
seed pods observed)
Stems:
Color (young)
High anthocyanin
Yellow Green
Color (mature)
Purple Red (59 A)
Light brown
Rigidity Flexible lamellate
Sparsely lamellate
between nodes between nodes - Rigid
Leaves:
Type Simple Simple
Color:
(young) Dark Green Medium green
(mature) Dark Green Medium green
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon)
Faded green to yellow
expressed in full sun
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed
Elliptical
leaves on vegetative
shoots)
tip Accuminate Acute on flower
shoots accuminate on
vegetative shoots
base Attenuate
margins Serrate serrate on upper 1/3
near tip
Size:
length 2"-21/2" on flowering
2"-3" (with petiole)
wood; to 23/4" on
vegatative wood
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering
1/2"
wood; to 1" on
vegetative wood
Venation Pinnate Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Intermediate Early
Flowering
Size: width
11/4"-11/2" 1/2"-3/4" at 45.degree. angle
Color: Yellow (7A) Bright Yellow (7 B)
Corolla:
length 1/2" open to 45.degree. angle
lobes Narrow not reflexed during
prime
Petals: number
4 - sometimes 5
4; occasionally 5 or 6
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25"
short: anthers slightly
above pollen sacs of
below stigma portion
stamens of pistil
Number per node:
2 2; often 4 per node
Insertion angle buds & flowers
on upright stems: pendulous
Internodes:
1"-11/2" (11/2" even on
1/2"-11/2"
fast growing shoots)
Stress Resistance:
disease and insect
Disease and insect
Utility Aspects: Can force flowering
suitable for container
culture
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TABLE 4
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S/N: 271,666 S/N 271,919
PYGMY RED MINIKIN
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Plant:
Habit Low, loose graceful
Small stature, fine
arching to ground
textured; small leaves
and small stems;
densely foliated
Size, height
31/2'-41/2' 2'-21/2'
Size, width
5'-6' 3'-4'
Vigor Good vigor Good vigor but slow
growth
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b Zone 6b (or lower)
(or lower)
Productivity
Readily roots where
Layers naturally
branches touch Abundant seed pods
ground few seed pods
Stems:
Color (young)
High anthocyanin
Light green
Color (mature)
Purple Red (59 A)
Brownish green
Rigidity Flexible lamellate
Ascending strongly
between nodes lamellate between
nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple Simple
Color:
(young) Dark Green Bright green to dark
green
(mature) Dark Green Bright green to dark
green
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon)
Fading green until
expressed in full sun
leaf drop
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed
Linear
leaves on vegetative
shoots)
tip Accuminate Accuminate
base Attenuate Attenuate
margins Serrate Lightly serrate
Size:
length 2"-21/2 " on flowering
On vegetative shoots-
wood; to 23/4" on
11/2" attached to 1/2"
vegatative wood
long slender petiole;
smaller on flowering
shoots
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering
On vegetative
wood; to 1" on shoots - 1/4";
vegetative wood
Venation Pinnate Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Intermediate Intermediate
Flowering
Size: width
11/4"-11/2" 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped)
fully reflexed
Color: Yellow (7A) Yellow (9 A)
Corolla:
length
lobes Narrow strongly reflexed,
very small
Petals: number
4 - sometimes 5
4:- short and recurved
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25"
Short; 1/25" below
above pollen sacs of
pollen
stamens sacs of stamens
Number per node:
2 2-4
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes:
1"-11/2" (11/2" even on
Short (Flowering
fast growing shoots)
shoots 1/4-3/4"
Vegetative shoots
up to 2")
Stress Resistance:
disease and insect
Doesn't require same
degree of winter
protection as most
container grown
plants of genre
Utility Aspects: Blooming can be
forced. Expecially
suited for container
culture.
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TABLE 5
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S/N: 271,666 S/N 272,063
PYGMY RED LEMON SCREEN
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Plant:
Habit Low, loose graceful
Tall, open and
arching to ground
graceful; Upright, fan
shape; vigorous; open
foliage
Size, height
31/2'-41/2' Up to 10'
Size, width
5'-6' Hardy Zone 6b
(or lower)
Vigor Good vigor Vigorous
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b
(or lower)
Productivity
Readily roots where
Abundant Flowers/
branches touch highly sterile/pruned
ground few seed pods
wood branches
quickly
Stems:
Color (young)
High anthocyanin
Color (mature)
Purple Red (59 A)
Yellow
Rigidity Flexible lamellate
Slightly lamellate
between nodes between nodes
Leaves:
Type Simple Simple
Color:
(young) Dark Green Yellow green 151 B
or Chartreuse (appear
after flowering)
(mature) Dark Green Normal green
(Yellow-Green 144)
whitish blotches
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon)
Greyed Purple 187 B
expressed in full sun
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed
leaves on vegetative
shoots)
tip Accuminate Accuminate
base Attenuate Attenuate
margins Serrate Serrate
Size:
length 2"-21/2" on flowering
Not distinguishing
wood; to 23/4" on
vegatative wood
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering
Not distinguishing
wood; to 1" on
vegetative wood
Venation Pinnate Pinnate
Flower:
Date of Intermediate Early
Flowering
Size: width
11/4"-11/2" 11/2"-13/4"
Color: Yellow (7A) Yellow (6 C)
Corolla:
length
lobes Narrow Somewhat reflexed
Petals: number
4 - sometimes 5
4, sometimes fasciated
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25"
aborted stamens &/or
above pollen sacs of
pistils
stamens
Number per node:
2 4 to 8
Insertion angle
on upright stems:
Internodes:
1"-11/2" (11/2" even on
1" to 2" long on
fast growing shoots)
flowering wood
Stress Resistance:
disease and insect
Summer foliage
disease & insect
resistant
Utility Aspects: Summer pruning leads
to shoot with
chartreuse leaves
(young)
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Claims
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Forsythia named `Pygmy-Red`, 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. (1983), "Ionizing Radiation", Genetics, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc., Boston, pp. 326-333. Decourtye, L. (1978), "Utilisation de la mutagense pour l'obtention de nouvelles variet e/ s d'Arbustes Ornementaux", Comptes Rendus des Seances D'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, NY, p. 380. "Hilliers Manual of Trees & Shrubs," 2nd American Edition, Hilliers & Sons Ltd., 1979, A. S. Barnes & Co., Cranbury, NJ, 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, NY, p. 1290. "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants--Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Propagation and Uses," Dirr, Michael A., 1983, Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, IL, p. 826.
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 16, 1988
Date of Patent: Jul 9, 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: 7/271,666
International Classification: A01H 500;
