Patent Grant
PP15613
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Populus trichocarpa Torr. and A. Gray (black cottonwood)×P. maximowiczii A. Henry (Japanese poplar).
Variety denomination: ‘Gnarly Poplar’.
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid of poplar tree named ‘Gnarly Poplar,’ which resulted from advanced-generation breeding of two poplar species, P. trichocarpa (unpatented) and P. maximowiczii (unpatented). Populus maximowiczii, or Japanese poplar, was crossed with Populus trichocarpa, the native black cottonwood of the Pacific Northwest, to produce a group of first generation (designated F1) trees. In 1996, male and female interspecific, first-generation hybrids were crossed to produce a second generation (designated F2) of male and female trees. The F2 family was propagated in a field experiment that was planted on Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the spring of 1997. In this, second-generation progeny of some 80 or 90 full siblings, one individual tree alone was contorted. This individual tree is my new variety which I have named ‘Gnarly Poplar.’ This tree was first discovered by the fall of 2000, and was growing in a cultivated area where this Vancouver Island field experiment was being conducted. ‘Gnarly Poplar’ is ornamental by virtue of its contorted zigzagging branches and trunk undulations.
The ‘Gnarly Poplar’ variety differs from its parent trees and other poplar trees known to the inventor, primarily because of its contorted habit of growth. The ‘Gnarly Poplar’ variety produces leaves that are relatively thick and handsome, and insofar as observed as of this time, is disease-free. The tree is upright and graceful, and it is smaller in overall size than its F2 siblings. Like all poplars of its lineage, this contorted clone is vegetatively reproducible. No contorted poplar trees are known to the inventor.
The first asexual propagation of this new variety was performed in the Spring of 2002 at University of Idaho Forest Research Nursery in Moscow, Id. Third-generation, rooted cuttings were planted in a field on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. These asexually propagated trees have been observed to be becoming as contorted as the original tree and other earlier generations of ‘Gnarly Poplar.’ This demonstrates that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.
Certain characteristics of this variety, may change with changing environmental conditions (such as photoperiod, temperature, moisture, soil conditions, nutrient availability, or other factors). For example, leaf colors may be brighter green if the trees are grown in soil with greater nitrogen concentrations, and may be more yellow when grown in soil containing lesser amounts of nitrogen. Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations (hue/value/chroma) are made with reference to the Munsell Book of Color, Kollmorgen Instruments Corp., 405 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553.
The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new tree and leaves of this new poplar tree variety and depict the color as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character. It should be noted that colors may vary, for example due to lighting conditions at the time the photographs are taken. Therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from the photographs alone.
The following detailed description of the ‘Gnarly Poplar’ cultivar poplar tree is based on observations of the original ‘Gnarly Poplar’ tree and of subsequent ‘Gnarly Poplar’ propagants (of various ages, including some which are one year old) on Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada), at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Id., and in Wenatchee, Wash.
