United States Patent [19]

[11] Patent Number:

Plant 7,279

Zampini

[45]

Jul. 24, 1990

[54]

SEEDLESS HYBRID MAPLE TREE NAMED CELZAM

[75] Inventor:

James W. Zampini, Perry, Ohio

Dec‘ 27’ 1988

variety of hybrid maple, which was discovered by me as _

a variant in a block of Acer on my cultivated property

Related U'S' Apphcanon Data '

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct

_

[51]

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Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwlll Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher & Hemke C°'

[57]

_

[22] F?ed‘

[63]

Field of Search ........................................ .. Plt./51

_

[73] Assignee: New Plants, Perry, 01110 [21] Appl. No.: 290,842 .

[58]

Date of Patent:

at Perry, Ohio. More particularly, the present invention

Continuation of Ser. No. 129,401, Dec. 3, 1987, abandOIlCd, which IS 8 continuation of S61‘. N0. 895,801,

relates to a novel cultivar of an Acer rubrumXAcer saccharinum cross unusual and distinctive char

Aug' 12’ 1986' abandmed'

acteristics, now available as Celzam.

Int. Cl.5 ............................................. .. A01H 5/00

[52] U.S. Cl.

Plt./51

3 Drawing Sheets

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2

RELATED APPLICATIONS

inwards, creating a tightly ovoid crown. The dense structure is inherited from the Acer rubrum parent. During the ?rst ?ve years a growth increment of 4 to 5 feet per year is considered average. Afterwards an average annual growth rate of l to 2 feet has been ob served and calculated as typical for this tree. The tree is

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 129,401, ?led Dec. 3, 1937, now abandoned, which is a continu

ation of Ser. No. 895,801, ?led Aug. 12, 1986, now abandoned. TECHNICAL FIELD

presently 40 feet tall, 18 feet wide, and has a caliper of 15 inches at grade. If grown on its own roots, it is ex

pected to reach a height approximating 50 feet at variety of seedless hybrid maple tree. This tree was 0 maturity, and a width of 20 feet. Common means of propagation involves taking soft discovered in 1967 in Zone 4 growing as a chance seed wood cuttings in early to mid June. This method pro ling among Acer saccharinum seedlings. Its two parents vides a 98% rooting success rate. Budding onto Acer are Acher saccharinum and Acer rubrum. The discovery saccharinum understocks only achieves a 40% take. was made by Mr. James Zampini, and occurred at The vegetative parts of this hybrid show some spe Indian Point Farm, Route 84, Perry, Ohio. ci?c characteristics of each parent. The leaves are op This selection is substantially seedless, rapid growth posite, simple, and palmate, which is a trait shared by when young, and an extremely dense upright structure. both Acer rubrum and Acer saccharinum. ‘The foliar This combination readily distinguishes it from either of morphology is similar to Acer rubrum only in that it is its parents and other varieties of the genus. 20 occasionally 3-lobed and that it is a medium green The present invention relates to a new and distinct

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2) show typical specimens of the foliage and form of my new hybrid maple variety as depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a photo»

graphic illustration of this character. The color termi nology is in reference to the Munsell Book of Color, hereinafter referred to as “Munsell”.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings: FIG. 1 shows a branchlet of such tree illustrating the

foliage thereof; FIG. 2 shows the dormant tree illustrating the dense

upright branching habit; FIG. 3 shows a composite of electronmicrophoto

graphs (Plates l-4) illustrating hybrid traits of such tree in detail; FIG. 4 shows the top surface of a tree leaf; and FIG. 5 shows the bottom surface of a tree leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Strong upright growth and unusually dense branch ing attracted initial attention to this selection. The branches leave the straight central leader at an average

angle of 45'’. Branch tips curve upward and slightly

(Munsell 2.5 BG 416) to dark green (Munsell 10 G 312) color. The remaining traits are generally characteristic of Acer saccharinum Leaf blade size averages from 3 to 6 inches in width and from 3% to 4} inches in length. Mature leaves are glabrous above with minute traces of white down be low, particularly near the leaf axils. The pale green veins on the leaf underside appear yellow in contrast with the grey color. Newly emerging leaves are salmon in color with brown indumentum underneath, although this is not obvious at a distance and they quickly be come green. Petiole lengths vary from 2 to 7 inches,‘ are

always glabrous, and are normally reddish on the side exposed to the sun. Leaf margins turn red in mid-Sep tember, with the whole leaf eventually maturing to a deep gold color in October. Leaf tips are acuminate,

margins doubly serrate, sinuses entire, the bases hastate to sub-cordate. Most leaves are 5-lobed, occasionally

3-lobed, with the middle lobe normally 3-lobed. Abaxial Foliar Surfaces of the tree as described by Cultivar Identi?cation With Scanning Electron Micros copy, a method developed by the Agricultural Re search Service, U.S.D.A., at the Nursery Crops Re

search Laboratory, Delaware, Ohio. Unique features of tree in reference to plates 14 of FIG. 3 include:

3

Plant 7,279

Con?guration of Foliar trichomes: Plate 1 (Magnification X 150).—A. Designated with

4

cream to gold in mature twigs, with an increasingly rank odor. Vegetative buds are, in all respects, similar to Acer saccharinum.

clear arrows. Slender and spiculate, as found on

Acer rubrum. Bar=50 um. B. Designated with

The reproductive parts of this hybrid maple tree are perfect. The ?ower buds of this selection are identical with those of Acer saccharinum, varying only in that they open later. This is in accordance with Acer rubrum. Flowers appear in late March to early April before the

solid arrows. Obtuse and reduced, as found on

Acer saccharinum. Bar=50 um. Foliar stomata: Plate 2 (Magm?cationX3000).—-Guard cell sur

faces smooth with fringed stomatal lips (see ar

leaves. They occur at the nodes of the previous year’s

rows) as found on Acer rubrum. Bar=50 um. Epicuticular wax:

wood or on the short spurs of older wood. Petals are a

deep reddish color, opening to expose the numerous stamens of greenish-yellow. These stamens are perfect

Plate 2 (Magni?cati0nX3Q00).-Wax granulate as found on Acer rubrum. Acer saccharinum is exfo

in form but produce no pollen. The pistils are also per fect in form, and are either red or greenish-yellow in

liate. Bar=5 um. Foliar trichome surface: Plate 3 (Magni?cationX3800).—Rugose, as found

color. There are numerous mature Acer rubrum and

Acer saccharinum in the vicinity as potential pollinators.

on Acer sacckarinum Bar=5 um. Foliar vein surface:

As the plant has never produced seed of any kind, I

Plate 4- (Magni?cation X 1500).—Coarse and rugose,

conclude that ovules are either not produced or are not

Plant specimens consisted of mature leaves collected on

reproductive problem. Whatever the cause, the plant is

20 viable as a result of an unknown hereditary factor. An as found on Acer saccharinum. Bar=5 pm. irregularity during mitosis which rendered the plant These electromicrophotographs were done with an with a chromosomal imbalance could account for this Hitachi Model S-500 Scanning Electromicroscope.

July ll, 1986. Immature twigs are bright green and glabrous with slender vertical lenticels. A bright red band encircles the node nearly 1/ 16th inch wide in very new growth.

substantially seedless, as are all successive generations 25 thereof.

I claim: 1. A new and distinct variety of substantially seedless hybrid Acer, (maple tree), substantially as herein shown silver with small round, brown lenticels. Leaf scars 30 and described, characterized particularly be being sub stantially seedless, having rapid growth when young, darken to nearly black and extend in diameter, but and exhibiting an extremely dense upright structure. never meet. The bark is smooth and grey. Stem pith is Second year wood is medium brown with oval orange lenticels and is irregularly glaucous. Older stems are

It

solid throughout, changing in color from white to 35

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