Patent Application
20170006753
Quercus lyrata
‘NIGHTLIGHTS’
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Oak tree, botanically known as Quercus lyrata, commercially referred to as Swamp Post Oak or Overcup Oak and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nightlights’.
The new Oak tree is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Pulaski and Oconee Counties, Georgia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Oak trees appropriate for urban landscapes that have an upswept branching habit and attractive autumn leaf color.
The new Oak tree originated from an open-pollination of an unnamed selection of Quercus lyrata, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Quercus lyrata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Oak tree was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Pulaski County, Georgia in November, 2004.
Asexual reproduction of the new Oak tree by grafting in a controlled environment in Oconee County, Georgia has shown that the unique features of this new Oak tree are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
Trees of the new Oak have not been observed under all possible environmental and cultural conditions. 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 ‘Nightlights’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Nightlights’ as a new and distinct Oak tree:
1. Upright branching habit and upright oval tree form.
2. Freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches providing a full and densely foliated appearance.
3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves that become purple red to orange in color during the autumn.
Trees of the new Oak can be compared to trees of the female parent selection. Trees of the new Oak differ primarily from trees of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
1. Trees of the new Oak are upright oval in shape with narrow branch angles whereas trees of the female parent selection are broadly rounded in shape with much wider branch angles.
2. Leaves of trees of the new Oak are glossier and darker green in color than leaves of trees of the female parent selection.
3. Leaves of trees of the new Oak become purple red to orange in color during the autumn whereas leaves of trees of the female parent selection do not change color in the autumn.
Trees of the new Oak can also be compared to trees of Quercus lyrata ‘Red Baron’, not patented. Trees of the new Oak and ‘Red Baron’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:
1. Trees of the new Oak are upright oval in shape with narrow branch angles whereas trees of ‘Red Baron’ are broadly oval in shape with wider branch angles.
2. Leaves of trees of the new Oak are glossier and darker green in color than leaves of trees of ‘Red Baron’.
3. Leaves of trees of the new Oak and ‘Red Baron’ differ in autumn leaf color as leaves of trees of ‘Red Baron’ become greyed orange to greyed red in color during the autumn.
The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Oak tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Oak tree. The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical mature tree of ‘Nightlights’ grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery. The photographs on the second sheet are side perspective views of typical mature trees of ‘Nightlights’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right) grown during the winter in an outdoor nursery showing the differences in branch angle orientation and overall tree form. The photographs on the third sheet are side perspective views of typical young trees of ‘Nightlights’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right) grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery showing the differences in fullness, density and overall tree form. The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of the upper surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Nightlights’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right) grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery showing the differences in leaf glossiness and color. The photograph on the fifth sheet is a close-up view of the upper surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Nightlights’ grown during the autumn in an outdoor nursery. The photographs on the sixth sheet are close-up views of typical mature trees of ‘Nightlights’ (left) and ‘Red Baron’ (right) grown during the winter in an outdoor nursery showing the differences in branch angle orientation.
The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe trees grown in an outdoor nursery in Pulaski County, Georgia and under cultural practices typical of commercial Oak tree production. Trees used in the photographs and description were ten years old. During the production of the trees, average day temperature was 24.5° C. and average night temperature was 11.1° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
