Euphorbia interspecific hybrid plant named ‘Eckcory’

The variety “Eckcory” is a new and distinct interspecific hybrid plant. The plant is characterized by clean and dark green foliage, eliptical leaves that have acute bases and acuminate tips, brightly colored pink and white brachts and strong lateral branching.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/690,370, filed Oct. 16, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the new and distinct variety of interspecific plant termed “Eckcory.” The new plant was created in my greenhouse and laboratory in Encinitas, Calif. The plant was prepared by crossing theEuphorbia pulcherrimavariety “M-6,” a Paul Ecke Ranch proprietary variety, with a seedling of the uncultivated speciesEuphorbia cornastra.The variety was selected by excision of a newly formed embryo from a seedpod followed by growth into a plantlet on nutrient agar medium. The cultured plantlet was transplanted to a greenhouse growing-medium, where it developed into the mature plant of the invention. As the plant matured, it exhibited strong terminal dominance with little lateral branch development. To induce lateral branching, the new plant was grafted onto a “selfbranching” rootstock by application of the procedures set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,276.

The plant of the invention is distinct from the parent plants from which it was derived. For example,Euphorbia pulcherrimais a “short day” plant with respect to flower initiation, whileEuphorbia cornastrais a “long day” plant. However, the interspecific hybrid flowered in response to short days and the time to full flower development was found to be a relatively short six weeks, compared to theE. pulcherrimaparent that took nine weeks for flower development under the same growing environment.

The first vegetative propagation of the plant in vitro occurred in October, 1998 in Encinitas Calif. The plant was first propagated ex vitro by grafting in August, 1999 in Encinitas, Calif. The distinctive characteristics of the plant remained consistent following propagation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new plant as observed in Encinitas, Calif., USA during May 2000. Observations were recorded from flowering plants, grown as one branched plant per pot. Plants were about 14 weeks from unrooted cuttings when photographs were taken. The pot was 17 cm in diameter and 13 cm in height. Color designations are compared to the 1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart, first published in 1966 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

Origin:An interspecific hybrid created by cross-pollinating acultivatedEuphorbia pulcherrimaplant with anuncultivatedEuphorbia cornastraplant.Classification:Botanical -Euphorbia X hybridForm:ShrubHeight:Short-mediumGrowthFlowering was observed, branched plant in a pot with anHabit:overall height of 42 cm, including the pot and an overallwidth of 42 cm. The plant grew upright but wassomewhat spreading. The average diameter of theinflorescences, which were primarily composed ofcolored bracts, was 20 cm.Branching:Lateral branches develop and terminate in a flowerwithout pinching. However, when pinched before flowerinduction to remove terminal dominance, all lateralbranches develop uniformly and at a faster rate. Theplant of description was pinched leaving 12 nodes on thestem. Strong lateral branches of nearly equal length andvigor arose, one from each stem node, resulting in a plantwith 12 lateral branches. The lowermost lateral had 14nodes and the uppermost, 9 nodes subtending the flower.Average branchThe average branch diameter was approximately 3 mm,diameter andand color was 146C.color:Growth Rate:Rooting of stem cutting occurs in 18-21 days underintermittent mist. The plant will flower in about 6 weeksunder continuous long night conditions and nighttemperatures of about 16-18 degrees C.Foliage:The foliage is clean and dark green from bottom to top ofthe plant. The leaves are of medium size, leaf bladestypically 10 cm long and 5 cm wide for the larger lowerleaves and 6 cm long and 2.5 cm wide for the smallerupper leaves. Leaf petioles are green and 6 cm long onthe larger leaves to 3 cm on the smaller leaves. Theupper leaf surface is glabrous, but slightly rugose and theunder surface is finely pubescent.Leaf shape:Leaves are elliptic with acute bases and acuminate tips.Leaf margins are entire.LeafLeaf arrangement alternate, single. Petiole length about 4arrangement:cm, diameter about 2 mm, color 178B (mature leafpetiole), 146C(immature leaf petiole).Number ofTypical number of leaves per lateral branch about 12,Leavesobserved 9 to 14 leaves per lateral branch.Color:Upper side - Dark green, darker than RHS 139AUnder side - Green, near RHS 147BBracts:There were 2-4 pink transitional bracts at the upperstem nodes just below the inflorescence. These were 7-8cm long and 3 cm wide. Eight to 10 bracts subtendingthe cyathia varied in size from 5 cm long and 2 cm wideto 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide.Shape:Bracts are elliptic with acute bases and acuminate tips.Bract margins are entire.Color:Upper side - Pink, near RHS 57DUnder side - Grayish-White, near RHS 156DFlowers:Generally, 8-10 rudimentary and sterile cyathia(flowers) were present at maturity. Each cyathium wasabout 5 mm long and 3 mm wide and green in color.PathogenResistance to pathogens and pests common toE.resistance:pulcherrimaorE. cornastrahas not been observed onplants grown under commercial conditions.