Chamelaucium (waxflower) plant named `Rosie`
A new and distinct interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid cultivar (known commercially as waxflower) distingished by its strong and erect flowering stems; upright and semi-open growth habit; dense terminal floral display; dark ref flower bud color; dark pink flower color; and good postharvest longevity.
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chamelaucium (Waxflower), botanically known as an interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Rosie.
The new cultivar is a product of a planned and controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors in Coorow, Western Australia, Australia. The new cultivar originated from a deliberate cross by the inventors between two different species of the genus Chamelaucium. An unnamed selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum was used as the female or seed parent and the Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride (not patented) was used as the male or pollen parent. Twenty days after the cross-pollination, the immature seed pod was harvested and the develping embryos were aseptically dissected and transferred onto a nutrient agar-based medium for further development. Mature plants developed from these dissected embryos. The cultivar Rosie was discovered and selected by the inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Coorow, Western Australia, Australia.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by cuttings taken at Coorow, Western Australia, Australia, and Escondido, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new Chamelaucium plant are stabilized and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Chamelaucium. These characteristics in combination distinguish Rosie as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Strong and erect flowering stems.
2. Upright and semi-open growth habit.
3. Dense terminal floral display.
4. Dark red flower bud color.
5. Dark pink flower color.
6. Good postharvest longevity.
The new Chamelaucium differs from its seed parent, the selecton of Chamelaucium megalopetalum, in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Chamelaucium flower faster than plants of the seed parent.
2. The petal shape of plants of the new Chamelaucium is round whereas the petal shape of plants of the seed parent is obovate.
3. The flower bud color is darker red on plants of the new Chamelaucium than the flower bud color on plants of the seed parent.
4. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is dark pink whereas the petal color of the seed parent is white.
5. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have more flowers per stem and appear more dense and full than plants of the seed parent.
6. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have broader flowering stems compared to plants of the seed parent.
The new Chamelaucium differs from its pollen parent, the Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride, in the following characteristics:
1. The petal shape of the new Chamelaucium is round whereas the petal shape of Purple Pride is obovate.
2. The petal color of the new Chamelaucium when opening is white compared to the purple petal color of Purple Pride. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is dark and the petal color of Purple Pride is red purple. The flower color development rate is slower for plants of the new Chamelaucium compared to plants of the pollen parent. The floral tube color is also different, as the floral tube of the new Chamelaucium is yellow green and the floral tube of Purple Pride is red brown.
3. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have more flowers per stem and appear more dense and full than plants of Purple Pride.
The new Chamelaucium can be compared to the Chamelaucium cultivar Revelation, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 8,791. Plants of Rosie differ from plants of revelation in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have shorter internodes, smaller leaves, and longer peduncles than plants of Revelation.
2. The petal color of the new Chamelaucium at maturity is dark pink compared to the light violet petal color of Revelation. The flower color development rate is slower for plants of the new Chamelaucium compared to plants of Revelation.
3. The floral tube color at the distal end is yellow green on plants of the new Chamelaucium and the floral tube color at the distal end is purple brown on plants of Revelation.
4. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have smooth floral tubes compared to the prominently fluted floral tubes of plants of Revelation.
A detailed comparison of the new Chamelaucium, its parents and Revelation plants appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.
The new Chamelaucium plant has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light level, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The accompanying colored photographs show typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of the new Chamelaucium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.
The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering stems of the new Chamelaucium plant grown in Escondido, Calif. This photograph shows the upright and semi-open growth habit of flowering stems of the new Chamelaucium.
The second and third photographs comprise close-up views of the new Chamelaucium's flowers showing the cultivar's unique petal colors that change with the development of the flower.
In the second photograph, flower buds are dark red; and as the flowers open, the petal color is white with a slight pale pink blush.
In the third photograph, flowers shown are approaching maturity and petal color is increasingly becoming dark pink in color.
The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisons describe plants grown in Escondido, Calif. Values representing size of plants, flowers and foliage are averages of plants produced under standard commercial cultural practices. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
Classification:
Botanical.--An interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid, Chamelaucium megalopetalum .times. Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Rosie.
Commercial.--Hybrid waxflower.
Parentage:
Female or seed parent.--Selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum (not patented).
Male of pollen parent.--Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride (not patented).
Plant description:
Form.--Erect, branched woody shrub.
Growth habit.--Vigorous, rigid and upright. Semi-open growth habit.
Flowering stem length.--1.8 m.
Foliage description.--Numerous leaves on one- and two-year-old wood; opposite arrangement; sessile; and aromatic. Internode length: 10 mm. Leaf size: Length: 10 mm. Width: 1 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Texture: Glabrous. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat and thick. Color: Dark green sometimes with red tint.
Flower description:
Flowering season.--Flowers develop and open throughout the spring.
Flower longevity.--Flower are long-lasting on the plant and after cutting, flowers and calyx persistent.
Flowering habit.--Flowers develop on thin first-year stems from upper axils. Numerous flowers arranged in terminal clusters, broad and dense floral display.
Flower shape.--Rounded outline, flattened cup-shaped floral tube with rounded, slightly cupped, orbicular petals.
Flower diameter.--1.8 cm.
Flower bud.--Form: Spherical, covered with thin deciduous bracteoles. Diameter: 7 to 8 mm prior to petal opening. Color: With operculum: Dark red (46A). Without operculum: White (155D). Bud tube: Green (143C).
Petals.--Quantity: Five. Shape: Rounded, slightly cupped and orbicular. Diameter: 8 mm.Texture: Waxy. Calyx: Five calyx lobes arranged alternately between petals. Color: When opening: White (155D) with pale pink blush at times. Developing flowers: White (155D) background with light pink (70D) areas a petal distal ends. Mature flowers: As flowers age, petals become more uiformly dark pink (61C) in color with light violet (75A) venation. Flower nectary, immature: Yellow green (144A). Flower nectary, mature: Yellow green (152A). Calyx lobe, mature: Pale pink/purple. Floral tube: Fluting: Slight to absent. Outline: Flared. Diameter: 8 mm. Color: Midpoint: Yellow green. Distal end: Yellow green.Peduncles: Length: 17 mm. Aspect: Upright and erect. Color: Green. Fragrance: Aromatic when crushed.
Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Quantity: Ten fertile stamens with ten infertile stamenoids arranged alternatively between stamens. Staminoidal outline: Narrow to medium, triangular. Stamenoidal collar color, mature: Pale pink to purple. Anthers, mature: Width: 0.7 mm. Color: Brown (200D). Filaments: Length: 2.5 mm. Color: White. Pollen: Color: Green brown. Texture: Waxy and sticky. Pistils: Quantity: One. Style: Length: 7 mm. Color: Immature: White (155D). Mature: Light Violet (84B). Stigma: Color, mature: Yellow (17B). Texture: Bearded and pubescent.
Fruit.--Shape: Hemispherical. Form: Three-celled capsule formed by the hardened bas of the persistent calyx.
Disease resistance: No resistance or susceptibility to plant pathogens has been observed.
CHART A
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PURPLE Chamelaucium
PRIDE, megapetalum
CHARAC- pollen selection,
REVELA-
TERISTIC ROSIE parent seed parent
TION
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FLOWER BUD
Dark red Dark red Red Dark red
COLOR, WITH
46A 46A 46B 46A
OPERCULUM
BUD COLOR,
White Pale White White
WITHOUT 155D purple 155B 155D
OPERCULUM 80A
BUD TUBE Green Green Light Green
COLOR 143C 146A green to violet
145A 144A to
77B
PETAL SHAPE,
Round Obovate Obovate Round
AFTER
OPENING
PETAL COLOR,
White Purple White White
WHEN with 78A 155B 155C
OPENING slight
pink
blush
155D
PETAL COLOR
Slow Medium Slow Fast
DEVELOPMENT
RATE
PETAL COLOR,
Dark Red White Light
MATURE pink purple 155D violet
61C 59B/59C 84B
FLOWER Yellow Light Green Green
NECTARY green brown 148A 146D
COLOR, 144A 177D
IMMATURE
FLOWER Yellow Dark Green Green
NECTARY green purple 146B/ 147A
COLOR, 152A 187A 146C
MATURE
STAMINOIDAL
Narrow/ Broad, Medium, Narrow,
OUTLINE medium, triangular
triangular
triangular
triangular
STAMINOIDAL
Pale pink/
Pale pink/
White Very pale
COLLAR purple purple pink/purple
COLOR,
MATURE
CALYX LOBE
Pale pink/
Pale pink/
White Pale purple
COLOR, purple purple
MATURE
STYLE COLOR,
Light Purple White Light violet
MATURE violet 84B
84B
FLORAL TUBE
Slight/ Slight Slight Prominent
FLUTING, absent
IMMATURE
FLORAL TUBE
Flared Flared Conical Flared
OUTLINE
FLORAL TUBE
8 mm 7 mm 6.8 mm 6.8 mm
DIAMETER
FLORAL TUBE
Yellow Red/ Green Green
COLOR, green brown
MIDPOINT
FLORAL TUBE
Yellow Red/ Green Purple
COLOR, green brown brown
DISTAL
END
FLOWERING Broad Broad Narrow Broad
STEM
SHAPE
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Claims
1. A new and distinct Chamelaucium interspecific hybrid plant named Rosie, as illustrated and described.
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 20, 1996
Date of Patent: Jul 15, 1997
Assignee: New World Plants USA (Escondido, CA)
Inventors: Brian Jack (Coorow), Victoria Syme (Coorow)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Attorney: C. A. Whealy
Application Number: 8/602,177
International Classification: A01H 500;
