Botanical designation: Calibrachoa parviflora.
Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALTIPI’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa parviflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docaltipi’.
The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Getinany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early-flowering Calibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.
The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2019 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA19-K0285, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA14-004241-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2022.
Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative tel minal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2022 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Docaltipi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docaltipi’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:
- 1. Upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit.
- 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
- 3. Freely branching habit.
- 4. Early and freely flowering habit.
- 5. Large flowers with light purple-colored petals, dark red-colored centers and yellow-colored central star-shaped pattern.
- 6. Good container and garden performance.
The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
- 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.
- 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants of the female parent selection.
- 3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have light purple-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers whereas plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored flowers.
The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
- 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of the male parent selection.
- 2. Flower centers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are more intense in color than flower centers of plants of the male parent selection.
Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL91001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL91001’ in the following characteristics:
- 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as compact as and more vigorous than plants of ‘USCAL91001’.
- 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of ‘USCAL91001’.
- 3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have longer leaves than plants of ‘USCAL91001’.
- 4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than plants of ‘USCAL91001’.
- 5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of ‘USCAL91001’.
- 6. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa have light purple-colored petals with dark red-colored centers and yellow-colored central star-shaped pattern whereas flowers of plants of ‘USCAL91001’ have red purple-colored petals with yellow-colored centers and central star-shaped pattern.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH
The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.
The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docaltipi’ grown in a container.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18C and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph was taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general tetins of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
- Botanical classification: Calibrachoa parviflora ‘Docaltipi’.
- Parentage:
- Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA19-K0285, not patented.
- Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA14-004241-002, not patented.
- Propagation:
- Type.—By vegetative cuttings.
- Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at temperatures about 20C.
- Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at temperatures about 20C.
- Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20C.
- Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 20C.
- Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.
- Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
- Plant description:
- Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about five to six primary lateral branches each with about six secondary lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and full appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
- Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.5 cm.
- Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 19.3 cm.
- Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 70.5 cm.
- Lateral branch description:
- Length.—About 38 cm.
- Diameter.—About 4 mm.
- Internode length.—About 1.9 cm.
- Strength.—Strong.
- Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent.
- Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.
- Color, developing.—Close to 144A.
- Color, at the internodes.—Close to 144A.
- Color, developed.—Close to 152A.
- Leaf description:
- Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after flowering, opposite; simple.
- Length.—About 2.8 cm.
- Width.—About 1 cm.
- Shape.—Oblanceolate.
- Apex.—Rounded.
- Base.—Attenuate.
- Margin.—Entire.
- Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; matte.
- Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.
- Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144C.
- Petioles.—Length: About 2.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143B. Color, lower surface: Close to 143C.
- Flower description:
- Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually about 756 flowers and flower buds developing per plant; flowers face mostly upright to somewhat outwardly.
- Fragrance.—None detected.
- Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.
- Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.
- Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Color: Immature sepals, close to 137B; immature petals, close to 77C.
- Flower diameter.—About 2.9 cm by 3.3 cm.
- Flower depth (height).—About 2.9 cm.
- Flower throat diameter.—About 6.4 mm.
- Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.
- Flower tube diameter.—About 4 mm.
- Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 75C; towards the center, close to 53A; star-shaped pattern, close to 5A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 62C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75B; towards the center, close to 53A; star-shaped pattern, close to 5A; venation, close to 59A; color does not change with subsequent development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62D; venation, close to 59A; color does not change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to 7A; venation, close to 59A. Tube: Close to 154C; venation, close to 59A.
- Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals; sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 7.8 mm. Sepal width: About 1.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137B. When developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to 137B.
- Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Angle: About 45 degrees from stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to N144C.
- Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower. Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to 151D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 13A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 8.9 mm. Style color: Close to N144C. Stigma diameter: About 0.6 mm. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to N144C. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 488 per plant. Length: About 5.8 mm. Diameter: About 4.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 39. Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200A.
- Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed to have good garden perfotmance and to tolerate wind, rain, temperatures ranging from about 5C to about 40C and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11.
- Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa plants.