USO0PP17177P2

(12) United States Plant Patent Vanderhaegen

(10) Patent N0.:

US PP17,177 P2

(45) Date of Patent:

(54) RHODODENDRON PLANT NAMED ‘KINKU SAKU’

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US. Cl. ..................................................... .. Plt./239

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Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. Flt/238,

Latin Name: Rhododendron simsiixRhododendron

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“0028mm? Imam/"hum

Int. Cl. A01H 5/00

Oct. 31, 2006

(2006.01)

Varietal Denominatlon: Klnku Saku

Flt/239’ 240

(75) Inventor: Johan Vanderhaegen Kruishoutem

See application ?le for Complete Search history

(BE) Primary ExamineriKent Bell

(73) Assignee: Hortibreed NV, Lochristi (BE) ( ) Nonce'

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82:55:?$032232?iinséiggi§?lgitglg % S C 15 4 (b) b 23 da i ' ' '

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A new cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘Kinku Saku’ that is characterized by long linear dark shiny green leaves,

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good leaf retention, long palmately compound shaped single

(21) App 1 . N o.: 11/054 , 873

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Filed:

ABSTRACT

pink ?owers and long ?ower life.

Feb. 10, 2005

1 Drawing Sheet

1

2

Botanical classi?cation: Rhododendron simsiixRhodo

The new cultivar ‘Kinku Saku’ is distinguishable from the female parent an unnamed Rhododendron simsii by the

dendron slenopelalum linearlfolium. Variety denomination: ‘Kinku Saku’.

following characteristics: 1. ‘Kinku Saku’ has linear shaped leaves. The leaves of the female parent have an elliptic shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

2. ‘Kinku Saku’ has long palmately compound shaped

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar

single pink ?owers. The ?owers of the female parent

of Rhododendron plant botanically known as Rhododendron

are star shaped and double. The new cultivar ‘Kinku Saku’ is distinguishable from the

and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Kinku Saku’.

male parent an unnamed Rhododendron slenopelalum lin

earifolium by the following characteristics:

‘Kinku Saku’ is a hybrid that originated from the hybrid iZation of the female or seed parent an unnamed proprietary

1. ‘Kinku Saku’ has good leaf retention. The leaves of the male parent are subject to leaf drop.

Rhododendron simsii (not patented) and the male or pollen parent an unnamed proprietary Rhododendron slenopelalum linearifolium (not patented). The cultivar ‘Kinku Saku’ was selected by the inventor in 1997 as a single plant within the

2. ‘Kinku Saku’ has longer ?ower longevity. The closest comparison cultivar is the male parent plant an unnamed Rhododendron slenopelalum linearlfolium.

progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area of

Kruishoutem, Belgium. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Kinku Saku’ by cuttings was ?rst performed in 2000 in Kruishoutem, Bel

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 20

photograph shows an overall view of a 24 month old plant.

characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques

and reproduced true to type in successive generations of

asexual reproduction.

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BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics 30

distinct cultivar apart from all other existing varieties of

shiny green leaves. 2. Rhododendron ‘Kinku Saku’ exhibits good leaf reten tion.

3. Rhododendron ‘Kinku Saku’ exhibits long palmately

compound shaped single pink ?owers. 4. Rhododendron ‘Kinku Saku’ exhibits a long ?ower life.

The following is a detailed description of the new Rhodo dendron cultivar named ‘Kinku Saku’. Data was collected in

Kruishoutem, Belgium from 24 month old glass greenhouse

Rhododendron known to the inventor.

1. Rhododendron ‘Kinku Saku’ exhibits long linear dark

and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light re?ectance it is as accurate as possible by

conventional photographic techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

of the new Rhododendron cultivar ‘Kinku Saku’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Kinku saku’ as a new and

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguish ing traits of Rhododendron ‘Kinku Saku’. The plant in the

gium. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique

grown plants in 14 cm. containers. The time of year was Winter and the average daytime temperature was 200 Cen 35

tigrade during the Summer and 3° Centigrade during the Winter. The average nighttime temperature was 12° Centi

grade during the Summer and 0° Centigrade during the Winter. The light level was natural outdoor light and there were no photoperiodic treatments. Color determinations are

in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, except where general color terms of

US PPl7,l77 P2 4

3 ordinary dictionary signi?cance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Kinku Saku’ has not

been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic

Petiole coloril44A.

Durability offoliage to stressiHigh. FloWer:

di?cerences may be observed With variations in

Flower arrangementiTerminal clusters.

environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, hoWever,

In?orescence typeisingle.

Without any variance in genotype.

In?orescence dimensions. *8.7 cm. in diameter and 4.3 cm. in height. Flowering habit.4Continuously once a year.

Botanical classi?cation: Rhododendron ‘Kinku Saku’. Use: Ornamental Perennial. Parentage: ‘Kinku Saku’ is a hybrid that resulted from the

hybridization of the folloWing plants: Female or seed parent an unnamed proprietary Rhododendron simsii. Male or pollen parent an unnamed proprietary Rhododen

dron stenopetalum linearifolium. Vigor: Moderate.

Quantity of?owers per lateral stemiApproximately 5

Quantity of ?ower buds per lateral stem.i Approximately 5.

Quantity of ?owers and buds per plant.* Approximately 180. Flowering seasoniLate Winter to early summer.

GroWth rate: Approximately 8 to 15 cm. per year.

lime to ?ower or response time.*lO.5 months.

GroWth habit: Broad upright, densely branched. Plant shape: Broad inverted triangle.

Rate of ?ower openingiAfter the ?rst ?oWer of a cluster has opened, all ?oWers of that cluster Will open in approximately 14 days.

Suitable container siZe: 1.0 liter container.

Height: Average 23.5 cm. in height. Width: Average 42 cm. in Width. Hardiness: USDA Zone 9.

FragranceiNone. Self-cleaning or persistent.*Self-cleaning. Flower bud length.i8 mm. in length.

Propagation: Cuttings.

Flower bud diameteri7 mm. in diameter.

Time to initiate roots: Approximately 30 days to produce

Flower bud shapeiBroad ovate. Bud color.*l44B.

roots on an initial cutting.

Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner: Approximately 60

Rate ofbud opening.il4 days. Flower aspectiUpright to outWard.

days. Root system: Fine and ?brous.

Flower shapeiLong palmately compound.

Stem:

Flower dimensionsiAverage 7.0 cm. in diameter and 5.6 cm. in height.

Branching habitiFreely branching. Average number of lateral branches.i36.

Flower longevityiLasts approximately 14 days on

Lateral branch diameter.*3 mm. in diameter.

plant. Petal appearanceislightly glossy, slight velvety.

Lateral branch length.ill.3 cm. in length.

Petal textureiGlabrous.

Lateral branch strengthiModerately strong.

Petal arrangementilrregular rotate.

PinchingiYes.

Stem coloril44A, older stems 165A. PubescenceiDense, length 1.0 mm, color 172C to 172D. Internode lengthil cm. betWeen nodes.

ShapeiRound. SurfaceiDull. Stem strengthistrong.

Foliage: Texture.%}lossy, slightly rugose. Leaf arrangementiAlternate, clustered toWards the top of the stems.

Compound or singleisingle. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.i28.

Leaf shape. *Linear.

Leaf apex.iAcute. Leaf base. *Attenuate. Leaf length.~4.5 cm. in length. Leaf width.*7.0 mm. in Width.

Pubescenceislight, both sides, length 1 mm, color gray-orange N172D.

Leaf marginiEntire. Vein patterniPinnate.

Young leaf color (upper surface).il37C. Young leafcolor (lower surface).il43A. Mature leaf color (upper surface).il39A. Mature leafcolor (lower surface).il37C to 137D. Vein color (lower surface).il44A. Vein color (upper surface).il44A. Leaf attachmentiPetiolate. Petiole dimensions.i9 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.

Number ofpetalsiFive in number. Petals fused or unfusediUnfused.

Petal shapeiLinear. Petal marginiEntire. Petal apex.4Obtuse. Petal baseiAttenuate. Petal dimensionsiAverage 5.5 cm. in length and 5 mm. in Width.

Petal Petal Petal Petal Petal

color when opening (upper side).i58C. color when opening (under side).i58C. color when fully opened (upper side).i58C. color when fully opened (under side).i58C. colorfading toiFading to 58D.

Calyx: Calyx shapeiFunnelform. Calyx dimensions.*l.0 cm. in length and 1.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts:

Number of bracts. *8 in number. Bract dimensions.40.8 cm. in length and 0.3 cm. in

Width.

Bract shapeiLinear. Bract apexiAcute. Bract pubescenceisparsely covered, color N155B. Bract color (both sides).il44A. Reproductive organs: Stamen number.*5.

Anther shapeiDorsi?xed, oval. Anther size.i2 mm. in length. Anther colori53B.

Amount ofpolleniVery loW.

US PPl7,l77 P2 6 Pistil numbenil. Pistil dimensions.i2.6 cm. in length.

Stigma ShapaAClub shaped, ?attened at the top. Stigma colokil83c. Style length.i2.5 cm. Style C0l0Ki59B. Ovary colonil44B to 144C.

Seed: Seed production has not been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the neW Rhododen dron have not been observed for disease or pest resistance. It is claimed: 1. A neW and distinct Variety of Rhododendron plant named ‘Kinku Saku’ as described and illustrated. *

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U S. Patent

Oct. 31, 2006

US PP17,177 P2