Plants – Herbaceous ornamnental flowering plant
Plant Patent
2003-03-04
2004-02-24
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Herbaceous ornamnental flowering plant
Plant Patent
active
PP014565
ABSTRACT:
Botanical classification:
Caladium×hortulanum.
Variety denomination: ‘Florida Moonlight’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
‘Florida Moonlight’ was a seedling initially evaluated in 1985 as GC85-245 originating from the cross-pollination of the
Caladium×hortulanum
cultivar Aaron with the cultivar Candidum Junior made in 1982 in a greenhouse in Bradenton, Fla. ‘Aaron’, not patented, was selected as the female (seed parent) parent because of its vigor, tuber yield, white-veined character, and excellent sun tolerance. ‘Candidum Junior’, not patented, was the male (pollen) parent selected because of its leaf production, multi-segmented tubers, bright white interveinal leaf surfaces, and quality as a container plant. Ancestry of ‘Aaron’ is unknown but ‘Candidum Junior’ is believed to be a field mutation of ‘Candidum’. Asexual propagation of tubers and evaluation in field and pot studies since 1985 have shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new Caladium has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment such as light intensity and temperature, without, however, any variance in genotype.
Caladiums are utilized in the ornamental industry as potted plants and landscape plants. They have a diversity of leaf colors that arise from red, pink, and white pigments displayed in solid, spot, and/or blotch patterns in interveinal areas. Veins and leaf margins may be colored or green adding to the diversity of patterns. For plants to be successful in the landscape, they must be vigorous, brightly colored, and have large leaves (unless used for border plants such as is the case for strap or lance leaved cultivars). When forced in containers to be used as an ornamental potted plant, shorter plants with many leaves that emerge quickly are desirable traits. The new caladium plant, ‘Florida Moonlight’, has distinct solid white interveinal leaf surfaces on heart shaped leaves, white primary veins, and a very narrow green margin. It is different in color (FIG.
1
) from ‘Aaron’, the female parent, which has a wide green margin and the white interveinal pattern is unstable from leaf to leaf. That is, leaves on one plant of ‘Aaron’ may range in color from only white veins to nearly ¾ the interveinal area of the leaf having a solid white center. It is different in color (
FIG. 1
) from ‘Candidum Junior’, the male parent, which has green primary veins resulting in a netted pattern. ‘Florida Moonlight’ has performed well in landscape settings in a number of trials showing the vigor necessary for landscape use. In addition, the new cultivar produces many leaves when the terminal is excised and tubers forced in pots, making it suitable for both a potted plant and a landscape plant. Tuber production, a necessary consideration for commercialization of a cultivar by the caladium tuber producing industry, has been excellent with tubers produced in the ideal sizes as described in the description section.
Harbaugh Brent K.
Miranda Baldwin D.
Campell Bruce R.
Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc.
Para A.
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