Plants – Herbaceous ornamnental flowering plant – Geranium
Plant Patent
2002-09-30
2003-07-08
Bell, Kent (Department: 1661)
Plants
Herbaceous ornamnental flowering plant
Geranium
Plant Patent
active
PP013961
ABSTRACT:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:
Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier.
Variety denomination: ‘Fip 553’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium, botanically known as
Pelargonium zonale,
and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Fip 553’.
‘Fip 553’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new zonal geranium cultivars with red flower color, medium green foliage and vigorous growth.
‘Fip 553’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor Angelika Utecht in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, in 1995.
The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling, no. 91-1477-2, having orange-red single-type flowers, dark green foliage and medium sized plant habit. The male parent of ‘Fip 553’ was the patented variety ‘Fissamba’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,364), characterized by deep red flowers, and medium green foliage.
‘Fip 553’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1996 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fip 553’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the fall of 1997 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, Angelika Utecht.
Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in May 1998 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fip 553’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
‘Fip 553’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Fip 553’ in combination distinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Brilliant, deep red, semi-double flowers;
2. relatively large, many-flowered inflorescences, well above the foliage;
3. medium-green foliage with medium zonation;
4. vigorous growth, bushy and rounded plant habit; and
5. medium (mid season) spring flowering response. Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Fip 553’ is the parental variety ‘Fissamba’, and the variety ‘Fisrored’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,917).
In comparison to ‘Fissamba’, ‘Fip 553’ has very similar flowers, with respect to both color and shape, but much more vigorous growth habit. By the end of the summer, plant diameter of ‘Fip 553’ was roughly twice the size of plants of ‘Fissamba’.
In comparison to ‘Fisrored’, ‘Fip 553’ has even slightly deeper red general flower color, rounder, not flat, inflorescences, slightly less distinct leaf zonation, and somewhat taller plant habit.
Bell Kent
Florfis AG
Foley & Lardner
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