Plants – Grass
Plant Patent
2002-12-13
2003-12-02
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Grass
Plant Patent
active
PP014344
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of
Sporobolus heterolepis
and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Morning Mist’. ‘Morning Mist’ represents a new cultivar of Prairie Dropseed, an ornamental grass grown for landscape use.
The inventor discovered and selected the new cultivar, ‘Morning Mist’, in a cultivated field in Westfield, Wis. in the fall of 1991. ‘Morning Mist’ was discovered as a naturally occurring variant seedling in a cultivated field sown for commercial seed production. The seeds sown were produced by open-pollination of unidentified selections of
Sporobolus heterolepis,
therefore, ‘Morning Mist’ has no identifiable parents.
The new cultivar ‘Morning Mist’ is unique in several characteristics, which in combination make this new invention unlike any other known cultivars of
Sporobolus heterolepis
known to the inventor. ‘Morning Mist’ has an abundance of blooms held on sturdy red culms and rachis with foliage that is upright but gently arching. The species typically has fewer fruiting culms, with great variability in inflorescence height and culms that are effectively brown and tend to lodge after seed maturation.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by root division in Westfield, Wis. in 1993 by the inventor. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. ‘Morning Mist’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in temperature, daylength, light intensity, soil types, and water and fertility levels without, however, any variance in genotype. The measurements, observations, and descriptions that follow describe plants grown outdoors in Westfield, Wis. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Morning Mist’ from any known selections of
Sporobolus heterolepis.
1. The plant habit of ‘Morning Mist’ is upright and slightly arching. The habit of the species is typically a mound that cascades to the ground from the center.
2. The flower panicles of ‘Morning Mist’ are held at a more consistent height than is typical of the species. Flowering stem height for ‘Morning Mist’ ranges from 60 to 90 cm whereas it is typical of the species to have flower stems on the same plant ranging in height from 50 to 130 cm.
3. The flower panicles are held on sturdy culms and do not droop as the seed matures. It is typical for the flowering culms of the species to lodge towards the ground as the seeds ripen.
4. The culms and rachis of ‘Morning Mist’ are consistently a deep red. The species typically has hints of this coloration but it is inconsistent, not as deep in color, and the general appearance of the culms is a light brown color.
5. ‘Morning Mist’ has significantly more fruiting culms than is typical of the species. A 3 year-old clump produces approximately 100 fruiting culms. The species typically has 40 to 50 fruiting culms arising from a clump of similar age and size.
6. The foliage color of ‘Morning Mist’ is typical of the species: deep green in summer and turning a golden orange in fall.
7. ‘Morning Mist’ is tolerant to a wide range of soil growing conditions; growing well in full sun to light shade in any well-drained soil. It is tolerant of alkaline soils and drought when established.
Aguirre Penny J.
Campell Bruce R.
Para Annette H.
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