USO0PP23090P2

(12) United States Plant Patent van Heesbeen

(10) Patent N0.:

US PP23,090 P2

(45) Date of Patent:

Sep. 25, 2012

(54) STOKESIA PLANT NAMED ‘MELS BLUE’

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Int- Cl A01H 5/00

(50)

Latin Name: Stokesia laevis Varietal DenOminaIiOnI MELS BLUE

(52) (58)

US. Cl. ..................................................... .. Plt./484 Field of Classi?cation Search .................. .. Plt./484

(75)

Inventor:

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Assignee: Van Heesbeen Cultures B.V., Galder

(2006.01)

See application ?le for complete search history. Adrianus van Heesbeen, Galder (NL) Primary Examiner * Kent L Bell

(74) Azzgrney, Agenz, or Firm i Cassandra Bright

(NL) ( * ) Notice:

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Subjeqw any disclaimer{ the term Ofthis Pawnt 15 extended or adlusted under 35

A new and distinct Slokesia laevis named ‘MELS BLUE’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive spherical plant

U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

shape, strong plant stems, and good branching. The new cultivar is a Slokesi a typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use_

NO.Z

(22) Filed:

ABSTRACT

May 23, 2011

1 Drawing Sheet

1

2

Latin name of the genus and species: Slokesia laevis.

ally, the new variety produces plants that have stronger stems

Variety denomination: ‘MELS BLUE’.

and have more stems than the parent variety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar is the result of a chance discovery in a

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MELS BLUE’ are similar to the

commercial nursery in Galder, the Netherlands. The inventor,

commercial variety Slokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ U.S.

Adrianus van Heesbeen, a citizen of the Netherlands, discov ered the new variety as a single whole plant, mutation of the

Plant Pat. No. 10,660 in most horticultural characteristics.

‘MELS BLUE’ differs from ‘Purple Parasols’ in overall plant form, having a more even, round plant shape. Plants of ‘MELS BLUE’ have a smaller ?ower than ‘Purple Parasols’ and more stems, and stronger plant stems than ‘Purple Para sols’.

parent variety, an unpatented, unnamed variety of Slokesia laevis. The discovery was made in July of 2007. After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MELS BLUE’ was ?rst

performed in the same commercial nursery by vegetative 15 division in March 2008. ‘MELS BLUE’ has since produced

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

multiple generations and has shown that the unique features The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘MELS BLUE’ grown outdoors in

of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

20 Meer, Belgium. This plant is approximately 12 to 18 months

The cultivar ‘MELS BLUE’ has not been observed under

old, grown in a 1 liter pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear dif

all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may

ferent from actual colors due to light re?ectance it is as

vary somewhat with variations in environment such as tem

accurate as possible by conventional photographic tech

perature, day length, and light intensity, without, however,

niques.

any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MELS BLUE.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 30

1. Spherical plant shape.

used. The following observations and measurements describe

2. Strong plant stems. 3. Higher quantity of plant stems compared to other Stoke sia laevis varieties. PARENTAL COMPARISON

In the following description, color references are made to

The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary signi?cance are

‘MELS BLUE’ as a new and distinct Slokesia cultivar:

35

‘MELS BLUE’ plants grown outdoors in Meer, Belgium. Measurements were taken in April, before ?owering begins. The growing temperature ranged from 00 C. to 25° C. at night to 00 C. to 30° C. during the day. No arti?cial light, photope riodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MELS BLUE’ are similar to the

plants. Measurements and numerical values represent aver

parent, an unpatented, unnamed variety of Slokesia laevis in

ages of typical ?owering types.

most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘MELS BLUE’ differs in having a more round overall plant shape. Addition

Botanical classi?cation: Slokesia laevis ‘MELS BLUE’.

Age of the plant described: Approximately 9 months.

US PP23,09O P2 3 Container size of the plant described: 1 liter commercial container.

In?orescence:

Diameter of entire in?orescenceiApproximately 9.0 cm.

PROPAGATION

Depth 0fin?orescence.iApproximately 3.6 cm. Disc diameteniApproximately 5.1 cm.

Typical method: Plant division.

Receptacle shapeiBroad inverted triangular.

Time to rooting: 14 days at 15° C. or higher. Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 4-5 Weeks. Root description: Well branched, colored near RHS YelloW White 158C and 158D.

Receptacle heightiAverage 0.4 cm. Receptacle diameteniAverage 0.9 cm.

Longevity of individual in?orescence.iApproximately ten days. Rate of 0pening.*14 to 28 days from bud to fully

PLANT

opened in?orescence. Persistent 0r self-cleaningiSelf-cleaning.

GroWth habit: Hardy, upright, herbaceous perennial. Height: Approximately 50 cm.

ArrangementiRotate. Aspect/orientation.4OutWard. Shape.4Obcordate.

Blooming period: Naturally blooming in Summer to late Summer.

Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm. GroWth rate: Moderate.

Branching characteristics: Freely branching from base.

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Number of ray ?oretsiAverage: 26. Length .iApproximately 4.2 cm. Width .iApproximately 1.7 cm.

Apex shapeiLaciniate.

Length of lateral branches: Approximately 40 cm.

Base.4Cuneate. FOLIAGE 25

Leaf:

MarginiEntire. TextureiSmooth, slightly glossy, slightly velvety. Color:

ArrangementiAltemate, simple.

Ray ?oretsiUpper surface at ?rst opening: Near RHS Violet-Blue 90C. Upper surface at maturity: Near

Average lengthiApproximately 9.6 cm. Average widthiApproximately 3.7 cm.

Shape ofbladeiNarrow ovate to elliptic.

RHS Violet N88B to 90C. Upper surface at fading: 30

ing: Near RHS Violet-Blue 90D. Under surface at maturity: Near RHS Violet-Blue 90C. Under surface at fading: Near RHS Violet N88C. Disc/inner ray ?orets:

ApexiAcuminate. BaseiAcuminate. AttachmentiBasal leaves stalked.

MarginiEntire.

Number of disc ?oretsiApproximately 150. ArrangementiSpirally placed on disc. Length .iApproximately 2.3 cm.

Texture 0ft0p surfaceiSmooth, slightly glossy. Texture of bottom surfaceiSmooth, slightly glossy. ColoniYoung foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A, lighter toWards the base; 143B and 143C. Young foliage under side: In betWeen near RHS Green 143C and YelloW-Green 144A. Mature foliage

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Width .iApproximately 0.9 cm. ShapeiTubular, With an average of 5 free tips, loWer 50% fused.

Margin .iMargins of free tips entire.

upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS YelloW-Green 147B. VenationiType: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS YelloW-Green 145C. Venation color under side: Near RHS YelloW-Green 145B.

ApexiAcute. BaseiFused into a tube.

TextureiSmooth, slightly glossy, slightly velvety.

Petiole: Basal leaves only. Length .iApproximately 5 .0 cm. Diameter.iApproximately 0.4 cm.

TextureiSmooth, moderately glossy.

Near RHS Violet N88C. Under surface at ?rst open

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C0l0r.iNear RHS Green 143C.

Color: Disc?oretsiUpper surface at ?rst opening: Near RHS Violet N88B. Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS Violet N88B. Upper surface at fading: Near RHS Violet N88C. Under surface at ?rst opening: Near RHS Violet N88B. Under surface at maturity: Near RHS Violet N8 8B. Under surface at fading: Near RHS Violet N88C.

Fragrance: No.

FLOWER

Involucral bracts:

Bloom period:

Naturally bloomingiJuly-September.

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Bud:

ArrangementiRotate, spirally placed on involucrum. NumbeniApproximately 50. Length .iApproximately 1.3 cm.

Bud shapeiFlattened globular.

Width .iApproximately 0.5 cm.

Bud lengthiApproximately 1.4 cm. Bud diameteniApproximately 1.4 cm. Bud c0l0r.iNear RHS YelloW-Green 145C With

ShapeiElliptic. ApexiNarroW apiculate.

involucral bracts colored Green 143B, top near Purple 76B. In?orescence:

F0rm.4Capitula (typical for Stokesia laevis). Quantity per plantiApproximately 130.

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Base.4Cuneate.

MarginiSharp serrate to ciliate (not sharp to the

touch). TextureiSmooth, very slightly glossy. Colonilnside color near RHS Green 137C. Outside color near RHS Green 137C.

US PP23,09O P2 5

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Peduncles:

Gynoecium:

LengthiAverage 9,3 Cm,

Pistil lengthiApproximately 1.5 cm.

WidthiAverage 0.3 cm.

Stigma Shape-‘Cleft

TexturaiStrong, dull, moderately pubescent, hair color near RHS Greyed-White 156D. ColoniNear RHSGreen 138C.

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Style coloniNear RHS White NN155D. Ovary coloniNear RHS Green-White 157D.

Pedicels: No pedicels present, in?orescences directly on top Of pedunclesREPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Androecium; Stamens Per disc-?oreLij Filamem lengzhiApproximately ()_4 Cm_ Fl-lamem coloniNear RHS Violet N871)

Stigma coloniNear RHS White NN155D. Style lengthiAbout 1.2 cm.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 10 Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.

Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Stokesia has been observed. Temperature tolerance: The neW Variety tolerates loW tem 15

peratures to at least —5° C. and has been observed to toler ate high temperatures to at least 35° C. Plants can tolerate

Amher ShaPaiLinean

infrequent Summer Watering.

Anther lengthiAbout 0.4 cm.

What IS Clalmed 1_S:_

Amher coloniNear RHS White NNISSD'

1. A neW and distinct cultivar of Stokesza laevzs plant

Pollen amount iLOW Pollen coloniNear RHS White NN155D.

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0 named ‘MELS BLUE’ as herein illustrated and described. *

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U S. Patent

Sep. 25, 2012

US PP23,090 P2