Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Espinal’

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Espinal’, characterized by its pompon-type inflorescences with golden yellow-colored ray florets; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemumplant, botanically known asChrysanthemum×morifoliumand referred to by the name ‘Espinal’.

The newChrysanthemumis the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous cutChrysanthemumcultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The newChrysanthemumoriginated from an open-pollination in March, 1995 in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, of two unknown selections ofChrysanthemum×morifolium. The newChrysanthemumwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the newChrysanthemumby terminal cuttings harvested in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands since Oct. 10, 1998, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemumare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Espinal’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Espinal’ as a new and distinct cultivar:1. Pompon-type inflorescences with golden yellow-colored ray florets; typically grown as a spray type.2. Freely branching habit.3. Freely flowering habit.4. Early and uniform flowering response.5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumcan be compared to plants of theChrysanthemumcultivar Verburgh (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,116). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffered primarily from plants of the cultivar Verburgh in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad more leaves per stem than plants of the cultivar Verburgh.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Verburgh.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflowered about five days earlier than plants of the cultivar Verburgh.4. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad fewer ray florets per inflorescence than plants of the cultivar Verburgh.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumcan also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemumcultivar Focus (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,133). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffered primarily from plants of the cultivar Focus in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad shinier leaves than plants of the cultivar Focus.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Focus.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad larger inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Focus.4. Plants of the newChrysanthemumand the cultivar Focus differed in ray floret coloration.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels were about 4,000 lux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Espinal.Commercial classification: Pompon-typeChrysanthemumtypically grown as a spray-type cut flower.Parentage: Open-pollination of two unknown selections ofChrysanthemum×morifolium.Propagation:Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 5 days at 20° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 6 days at 18° C.Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 10 days at 20° C.Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 14 days at 18° C.Root description.—Fine and freely branching; white in color.Plant description:Appearance.—Herbaceous pompon-type cutChrysanthemum; typically grown as a spray-type; erect and strong flowering stems.Growth rate.—Moderate; moderately vigorous.Flowering stem description.—Length: About 70 to 80 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Freely branching, about 10 to 15 lateral branches develop per plant. Lateral branches about 9 to 19 cm in length. Color: 146B.Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 6 to 11 cm. Width: About 4 to 7 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Pinnately lobed; serrate. Texture, upper and lower surface: Pubescent. Petiole length: About 2 to 3 cm. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Between 137C and 147B. Venation, upper surface: 147C. Venation, lower surface: 146C. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 137C.Inflorescence description:Appearance.—Pompon-type inflorescence form with elongated ovate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Not fragrant. Typically grown as a spray-type.Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed to long day/short night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about 47 days later. Early and uniform flowering response.Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain good substance and form for about three weeks.Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 15 to 20 inflorescences per flowering stem.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4 to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5 to 2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 6 mm.Inflorescence buds.—Length: About 8 to 9 mm. Diameter: About 9 to 11 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 145A to 143C.Ray florets.—Length: About 1.5 to 2.3 cm. Width: About 7 to 10 mm. Shape: Elongated ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused, short corolla tube. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 250. Color: When opening, upper surface: 9A. When opening, lower surface: 6B. Fully opened, upper surface: 6A; color becoming closer to 5A with development. Fully opened, lower surface: 6C overlain slightly with 22A.Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 20 to 25. Color: Immature: 145C. Mature: Apex: 144C. Mid-section: 13B. Base: 145D.Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7 cm. Length, fourth peduncle: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Closest to 146B.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to knownChrysanthemumpathogens and pests has not been observed on plants of the newChrysanthemum.