Heath plant named `Happy II`

- Bay City Flower Company

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of heath plant named Erica persoluta `Happy II`, a seedling of unknown pollen and seed parentage, discovered in a field of Erica persoluta `Sunset`, which is distinguished from Erica persoluta `Happy` and all other varieties known to me by its ease of propagation, its resistance to root diseases, and the color of its flower.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Ericaceae family, named Erica persoluta `Happy II` by the assignee of the invention. This new and heather variety was discovered by the inventor as a seedling of unknown pollen and seed parentage growing in a cultivated field of Erica persoluta `Sunset` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,336. The new variety possesses the naturally compact growth habit of Erica persoluta `Sunset`, but was noticed because of its early and prolonged flowering habit. In this respect it is very similar to the patented plant variety Erica persoluta `Happy`--U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,650; Bruno Imazio, inventor; Bay City Flower Co., Inc. assignee.

The new variety is particularly suitable for potted plant culture because of the ease and speed with which cuttings take root and its resistance to root diseases.

The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety which differentiate it from Erica persoluta `Happy` and other varieties known to me are:

1. ease of propagation,

2. resistance to root diseases, and,

3. color of the flower.

  ______________________________________                                    
     Characteristic                                                            
                 `Happy`      `Happy II`                                       
     ______________________________________                                    
     Ease of Propagation                                                       
                 Average      Above Average                                    
     Disease Resistance                                                        
                 Good         Very good; resistant to                          
                              the root diseases                                
                              Pythium and                                      
                              Rhizoctonia.                                     
     Bloom Color R.H.S. 78 B-78 C                                              
                              R.H.S. 72 B                                      
     ______________________________________                                    

Since the inventor's discovery of the new variety several years ago, in a commercial nursery in the Sunset Beach area of Watsonville, Calif., the assignee, under the direction and control of the inventor at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif., has asexually reproduced the new cultivar through successive generations by means of cuttings and has found that its distinguishing characteristics remain true from generation to generation and appear to be firmly fixed. Those characteristics are: ease of propagation, disease resistance and bloom color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical potted plant form, including the inflorescence and foliage. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a potted plant of the new variety illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of a potted plant of the new variety just prior to the blooms opening.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the open blooms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety with color designations made according to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, published in London, England. The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants in 4" pots. The plants are 14 months of age from initial propagation and were grown outside under saran in a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif., where the average day and night temperatures are 65 degrees F. and 55 degrees F. respectively in the summer and 55 degrees F. and 45 degrees F. respectively in the winter.

The Plant

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Unknown.

Pollen parent.--Unknown.

Classification:

Botanic.--Erica persoluta `Happy II.`

Commercial.13 Happy II.

Form: Perennial, compact woody shrub.

Shape: Upright growth habit.

Height: 25.40 cm to 30.48 cm with an average of 26.04 cm for 14 month plants in 10 cm pots.

Girth: Circumference of 14 month plants in 10 cm pots is 48.26 cm to 55.88 cm.

Diameter: Actual and average diameter of 9".

Branching: Good with minimal pruning.

Growth: Naturally compact; stems become woody with age; stems strong and flexible.

Foliage: Abundant, plant covered with small needle-like leaves.

Size of leaf.--4 mm Long by 1 mm wide.

Shape of leaf.--Acerose like, convexed.

Character.--Sulcate.

Color.--R.H.S. 144 A.

Texture.--Smooth.

Hardiness: Can tolerate temperatures from 28 to 100 degrees F.

The Bud

Size: Fully developed.

Length.--3 mm.

width.--2 mm.

Diameter.--2 mm.

Color: R.H.S. 27 C.

Rate of opening: Rapid, commencing at the base of the inflorescence and progressing continuously to the tip.

Petals: Corroline flowers with inconspicuous sepals; R.H.S. 71 A.

Inflorescence

Blooming habit: Annually, early October through December.

Size of bloom: 4 mm long by 2 mm wide.

Flowering habit: Primarily in axiallary verticils and on short branches from the rachis, forming a vertical spike-like, paniculate raceme. Short branches terminate in single cluster from 1 to 6 or more flowers.

Shape: Urceolate.

Appearance: Santiny.

Flower color: R.H.S. 72 B.

Peduncle: The length of the peduncle will vary depending upon the orientation of the branch and the light penetration into the plant. Measurements of the peduncle ranged from 0.5 cm to 3.0 cm. Distance is measured to the first branch encountered that has flowers.

Pedicel: 2 mm.

Branch length: Usually 1.0 cm at bottom of infloresence and becoming progresively shorter travelling up the rachis.

Rachis:

Color.--Woody portion of rachis is R.H.S. 165 A; new growth is R.H.S. 60 A.

Strength.--Woody to supple; flexible.

Persistence: Blooms do not shed easily, remain long after the plant ceases to draw water.

Fragrance: Faint.

The outstanding economic and aesthetic characteristics of this new variety which distinguish it from other commercial varieties such as Erica persoluta `Heidi` and `Happy` are: flower color, resistance to root diseases and ease of asexual propagation.

  ______________________________________                                    
     `HEIDI`         `HAPPY`      `HAPPY II`                                   
     ______________________________________                                    
     The                                                                       
     Plant                                                                     
     Height A 4" pot will                                                      
                         A 4" pot will                                         
                                      A 4" pot will                            
            produce a plant                                                    
                         produce a plant                                       
                                      produce a plant                          
            8" to 9"     13" to 15" high                                       
                                      10" to 12" high                          
            high in 18   in 16 months with                                     
                                      in 16 months                             
            months with little                                                 
                         minimal pruning.                                      
                                      with minimal                             
            or no pruning.            pruning.                                 
     Form   Short, dense Same         Same                                     
            appearing,                                                         
            compact woody                                                      
            shrub.                                                             
     Shape  Upright, stems                                                     
                         Upright, stems                                        
                                      Same                                     
            curving slightly to                                                
                         curving slightly to                                   
            accommodate the                                                    
                         accommodate the                                       
            fullness of the                                                    
                         fullness of the                                       
            plant.       plant.                                                
     Branch-                                                                   
            Naturally    Ample, minimal                                        
                                      Same                                     
     ing    generous, minimal                                                  
                         prunings (1-2)                                        
            or no pruning                                                      
                         necessary to                                          
            needed.      encourage                                             
                         branching.                                            
     Growth Upright but  Same         Same                                     
            naturally short                                                    
            and branching                                                      
            with woody                                                         
            flexible strength.                                                 
     Blooming                                                                  
            Annual, mid Jan.                                                   
                         Annual, early                                         
                                      Annual, early                            
     Season to mid Feb.  Oct. to mid. Jan.                                     
                                      Oct. to the                              
                                      end of Dec.                              
     Ease of                                                                   
            Average      Average      Above average                            
     Propaga-                                                                  
     tion                                                                      
     Disease                                                                   
            Average      Good         Very good.                               
     Resist-                          Resistant to the                         
     ance                             root diseases                            
                                      Pythium and                              
                                      Rhizoctonia.                             
     Foliage                                                                   
     Color  R.H.S. 143 A R.H.S. 144 A R.H.S. 144 A                             
     Size   3 mm         Same         4 mm long,                               
                                      1 mm wide                                
     Shape  Spike-like with                                                    
                         Same         Same                                     
            stiff erect stems                                                  
            and acerose                                                        
            leaves                                                             
     Quantity                                                                  
            Abundant     Same         Same                                     
     Bloom                                                                     
     Size   3 mm .times. 1.5 mm                                                
                         3 mm .times. 2.5 mm                                   
                                      4 mm .times. 2 mm                        
     Borne  In clusters with                                                   
                         Same         Same                                     
            terminal buds.                                                     
     Shape  Urceolate    Same         Same                                     
     Color  R.H.S. 71C-71D                                                     
                         R.H.S 78B-78C                                         
                                      R.H.S. 72 B                              
     Rate of                                                                   
            Rapid, pro-  Same         Same                                     
     Opening                                                                   
            gressive and                                                       
            continuous                                                         
            beginning at base                                                  
            of stem and                                                        
            progressing to tip.                                                
     ______________________________________                                    

Claims

1. A new and distinct hybrid plant variety of the Heath family substantially as herein shown and described.

Patent History
Patent number: PP9497
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 22, 1994
Date of Patent: Apr 9, 1996
Assignee: Bay City Flower Company (Half Moon Bay, CA)
Inventor: Bruno L. Imazio (Watsonville, CA)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Attorney: James R. Cypher
Application Number: 8/361,631
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Plt/541
International Classification: A01H 500;