A new cultivar of Forsythia intermedia named `Lemon-Screen` characterized by its vigor, upright fan-shaped habit, lemon yellow flowers, high degree of sterility, its yellow shoots, and light green foliage.

The invention relates to a new cultivar of Forsythia intermedia named 
"Lemon-Screen", which is characterized especially by its abundance of 
light yellow flowers, its sterility, yellow stems with chartreuse leaves 
in spring, and whitish blotches on otherwise normal green leaves in 
summer. 
The new variety was derived from a periclinal chimera mutant, which itself 
was derived from a sectorial mutant, which was produced in turn by 
subjecting rooted cuttings of the parent Forsythia intermedia "Lynwood 
Gold" (a sport of F. intermedia "Spectabilis") to irradiation with 1,200 
rad fast neutrons. 
In 1968, three hundred cuttings of "Lynwood Gold" that had been potted and 
held in cold storage (38.degree. F.) for six weeks and then returned to 
the greenhouse for two days were irradiated with 1200 rad fast neutrons. 
One of the plants of this group that broke dormancy formed a shoot with 
variegated foliage. This plant was cut back repeatedly to induce branching 
and eventually formed shoots that exhibited different characteristics. 
Each shoot was propagated by stem cuttings over 10 vegetative generations 
of selection and propagation. From this plant population two vegetatively 
selected types and three seedlings were selected. Further propagation and 
testing of these selections over several more years were shown to be the 
stable and new forsythia varieties that are the subject of this and four 
other co-pending plant patent applications; viz: 
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Ser. No. Name Type 
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272,063 "Lemon-Screen" 
vegetative selection 
273,489 "Tinkle Bells" 
vegetative selection 
271,919 "Minikin" seedling 
271,665 "Fairy Land" seedling 
271,666 "Pygmy-Red" seedling 
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Each differs greatly from the parent "Lynwood Gold" and also from one 
another. 
"Lemon-Screen" was selected from a series of chimeral plants because of its 
distinct foliage, upright growth habit, and vigor. Cuttings from this 
plant have been rooted in soil and asexually propagated, and its progeny 
have displayed homogeneous and stable characteristics. 
Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter 
signify that the name of the color as used in common speech are aptly 
descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values 
based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural 
Society of London, England.

The following characteristics distinguish "Lemon-Screen" from its parent 
and other Forsythia cultivars: 
THE PLANT 
The "Lemon-Screen" plant form is tall and vigorous, with an upright, 
fan-shaped habit. "Lemon-Screen" ultimately reaches up to 10 ft. in 
height. The "Lemon-Screen" shrub is naturally open and graceful but is 
easily pruned as a tall, flowering screen in spring; it is hardy in Zone 
6b or lower. Because of its vigor, "Lemon-Screen" is conveniently produced 
in the nursery field, but small plants can be grown in containers for a 
year if cut back substantially. The cultivar is particularly suited for 
landscape purposes, especially as a tall barrier or visual screen. 
"Lemon-Screen" will branch out quickly when vegetative shoots are pruned 
back, making the plant suitable in traffic or crash barriers, where dense 
plantings are used. 
Its parent, "Lynwood Gold", by contrast is tall and slender--a straight 
upright variety with erect stems and which attains a height of 6 ft. to 
71/2 ft. at maturity. 
FLOWER 
"Lemon-Screen" has light lemon yellow flowers (Yellow 6C) that are 11/2 in. 
to 13/4 in. in diameter. The internodes are 1" to 2" long on flowering 
wood. Flowering is early and profuse, with four and up to eight flowers 
per node on some portions of some stems. The corolla lobes are somewhat 
reflexed. Flowers have four petals and are sometimes fasciated. The 
flowers have aborted stamens and/or pistils; consequently, "Lemon-Screen" 
possesses a high degree of sterility. 
The "Lynwood Gold" parent is fertile and has pistils that extend well above 
its pollen sacs, is late flowering and its medium sized flowers (about 1" 
to 11/2" in diameter) are almost evenly spaced on the stem. The flowers of 
"Lynwood Gold" are brilliant yellow (lighter than its parent, F. 
Spectabilis). The corolla lobes of "Lynwood Gold" are reflexed and its 
petals are elliptic. 
SHOOTS 
The mature shoots of "Lemon-Screen" are yellow and pith is slightly 
lamellate between nodes. 
The stems of the "Lynwood Gold" parent are green when young and brown when 
mature; they are a bit stiff; the pith at the nodes is lamellate, and on 
one year shoots, the stems between nodes are hollow. 
FOLIAGE 
The "Lemon-Screen" leaves are simple, serrate, acuminate at the tip, and 
attenuate at the base. The size of the leaves is not a distinguishing 
characteristic. The "Lemon-Screen" leaves which appear in the spring are 
chartreuse or of about a Yellow-Green 151 B color. In the summer the 
mature leaves are in the Yellow-Green 144 A/C range and have a 
Yellow-White 158 A, irregular blotch with no defined edge covering about 
25-30% of the leaf surface and that extends outward from the mid rib and 
veins and contrasts with the green colored portions of the leaf. Fall 
foliage is Greyed Purple 156B. The summer foliage is disease and insect 
resistant. The young chartreuse leaves which appear after flowering are 
striking and suggest the plants are in bloom again. Summer pruning leads 
to the appearance of shoots with leaves that are chartreuse when young. 
The leaves of the "Lynwood Gold" parent, on the other hand, are ovate 
lanceolate in shape and about 3" to 41/2" long and about 1" to 11/2" wide. 
Both young and old leaves are deep green in color. 
To facilitate the comparison of the characteristics and features of 
"Lemon-Screen", the subject of this application, and its parent, "Lynwood 
Gold" and also with the four other new mutant offspring varieties of 
"Lynwood Gold" referred to above, there are attached hereto as Tables 1-5 
comparative tabulations of the characteristics and properties of parent 
and its five offspring mutants that were developed from a single 
irradiated plant of "Lynwood Gold." Table 1 compares "Lemon-Screen" and 
its parent "Lynwood Gold". Table 2 compares "Lemon-Screen" and 
"Pygmy-Red". Table 3 compares "Lemon-Screen" and "Tinkle Bells". Table 4 
compares "Lemon-Screen" and "Minikin". Table 5 compares "Lemon-Screen" and 
"Fairy Land". 
TABLE 1 
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Ser. No. 272,063 
LEMON SCREEN 
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Plant: 
Habit Tall, open and graceful; Upright, 
fan shape; vigorous; open 
foliage 
Size, height up to 10' 
Size, width Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Vigor Vigorous 
Hardiness 
Productivity Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/ 
pruned wood branches quickly 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Color (mature) 
Yellow 
Rigidity Slightly lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse 
(appear after flowering) 
(mature) Normal green (Yellow-Green 144) 
whitish blotches 
(fall) Greyed Purple 187 B 
Shape 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Serrate 
Size 
length Not distinguishing 
width Not distinguishing 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Early 
Size: width 11/2"-13/4" 
Color: Yellow (6 C) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Somewhat reflexed 
Petals: number 
4, sometimes fasciated 
Pistils: aborted stamens &/or pistils 
Number per node: 
4 to 8 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1" to 2" long on flowering wood 
Stress Resistance: 
Summer foliage disease & insect 
resistant 
Utility Aspects: 
Summer pruning leads to shoot 
with chartreuse leaves (young) 
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LYNWOOD GOLD 
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Plant: 
Habit Tall, slender-Upright 
straight & erect stems 
Size, height 6'-71/2' 
Size, width 
Vigor 
Hardiness 
Productivity Fertile 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Green 
Color (mature) 
Brown 
Rigidity A bit stiff; pith nodes lamellate; 
hollow between nodes on one year shoots 
Leaves: 
Type 
Color: 
(young) Deep Green 
(mature) Deep Green 
(fall) 
Shape ovate lanceolate 
tip 
base 
margins 
Size 
length 3-41/2" 
width 1-11/2" 
Venation 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Late 
Size: width 1"-11/2" (medium) 
Color: Brillant Yellow (lighter than its 
paren Spectabilis) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Reflexed 
Petals: number 
Large, broad, open 
Elliptic 
Pistils: Extend well above pollen 
sacs (anthers) of stamens 
Number per node: 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: Flowers almost evenly spaced 
on stems 
Stress Resistance: 
Utility Aspects: 
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TABLE 2 
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Ser. No. 272,063 
LEMON SCREEN 
______________________________________ 
Plant: 
Habit Tall, open and graceful; Upright, 
fan shape; vigorous; open 
foliage 
Size, height up to 10' 
Size, width Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Vigor Vigorous 
Hardiness 
Productivity Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/ 
pruned wood branches quickly 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Color (mature) Yellow 
Rigidity Slightly lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse 
(appear after flowering) 
(mature) Normal green (Yellow-Green 144) 
whitish blotches 
(fall) Greyed Purple 187 B 
Shape 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Serrate 
Size 
length Not distinguishing 
width Not distinguishing 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Early 
Size: width 11/2"-13/4" 
Color: Yellow (6 C) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Somewhat reflexed 
Petals: number 4, sometimes fasciated 
Pistils: aborted stamens &/or pistils 
Number per node: 
4 to 8 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1" to 2" long on flowering wood 
Stress Resistance: 
Summer foliage disease & insect 
resistant 
Utility Aspects: 
Summer pruning leads to shoot 
with chartreuse leaves (young) 
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Ser. No. 271,666 
PYGMY RED 
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Plant: 
Habit Low, loose graceful 
arching to ground 
Size, height 31/2'-41/2' 
Size, width 5'-6' 
Vigor Good vigor 
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Productivity Readily roots where branches 
touch ground few seed pods 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) High anthocyanin 
Color (mature) Purple Red (59 A) 
Rigidity Flexible lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Dark Green 
(mature) Dark Green 
(fall) Anthocyanin (maroon) expressed 
in full sun 
Shape Lanceolate (few lobed 
leaves on vegetative shoots) 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Serrate 
Size 
length 2"-21/2" on flowering wood; 
to 23/4" on vegatative wood 
width 0.3"-0.4" on flowering wood; 
to 1" on vegetative wood 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Intermediate 
Size: width 11/4"-11/2" 
Color: Yellow (7A) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Narrow 
Petals: number 4 - sometimes 5 
Pistils: Extend 2/25"-3/25" above 
pollen sacs of stamens 
Number per node: 
2 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1"-11/2" (11/2" even on 
fast growing shoots 
Stress Resistance: 
disease and insect 
Utility Aspects: 
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TABLE 3 
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Ser. No. 272,063 
LEMON SCREEN 
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Plant: 
Habit Tall, open and graceful; Upright, 
fan shape; vigorous; open 
foliage 
Size, height up to 10' 
Size, width Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Vigor Vigorous 
Hardiness 
Productivity Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/ 
pruned wood branches quickly 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Color (mature) Yellow 
Rigidity Slightly lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse 
(appear after flowering) 
(mature) Normal green (Yellow-Green 144) 
whitish blotches 
(fall) Greyed Purple 187 B 
Shape 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Serrate 
Size 
length Not distinguishing 
width Not distinguishing 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Early 
Size: width 11/2"-13/4" 
Color: Yellow (6 C) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Somewhat reflexed 
Petals: number 4, sometimes fasciated 
Pistils: aborted stamens &/or pistils 
Number per node: 
4 to 8 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1" to 2" long on flowering wood 
Stress Resistance: 
Summer foliage disease & insect 
resistant 
Utility Aspects: 
Summer pruning leads to shoot 
with chartreuse leaves (young) 
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Ser. No. 273,489 
TINKLE BELLS 
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Plant: 
Habit Semi-dwarf; Upright 
Size, height 4'-41/2' 
Size, width 
Vigor Medium vigor 
Hardiness Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Productivity Does not layer naturally (replicates 
from stools (no seed pods observed) 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) Yellow Green 
Color (mature) Light brown 
Rigidity Sparsely lamellate between 
nodes - Rigid 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Medium Green 
(mature) Medium Green 
(fall) Faded green to yellow 
Shape Elliptical 
tip Acute on flower shoots 
accuminate on vegetative shoots 
base 
margins serrate on upper 1/3 near tip 
Size 
length 2"-3" (with petiole) 
width 1/2" 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Early 
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" at 45.degree. angle 
Color: Bright Yellow (7 B) 
Corolla: 
length 1/2" open to 45.degree. angle 
lobes not reflexed during prime 
Petals: number 4; occasionally 5 or 6 
Pistils: short: anthers slightly 
below stigma portion of pistil 
Number per node: 
2; often 4 per node 
Insertion angle 
buds & flowers pendulous 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1/2--11/2" 
Stress Resistance: 
Disease and insect 
Utility Aspects: 
Can force flowering suitable 
for container culture 
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TABLE 4 
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Ser. No. 272,063 
LEMON SCREEN 
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Plant: 
Habit Tall, open and graceful; Upright, 
fan shape; vigorous; open 
foliage 
Size, height 
Up to 10' 
Size, width Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Vigor Vigorous 
Hardiness 
Productivity 
Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/ 
pruned wood branches quickly 
Stems of Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Color (mature) 
Yellow 
Rigidity Slightly lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse 
(appear after flowering) 
(mature) Normal green (Yellow-Green 144) 
whitish blotches 
(fall) Greyed Purple 187 B 
Shape 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Serrate 
Size 
length Not distinguishing 
width Not distinguishing 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Early 
Size: width 11/2"-13/4" 
Color: Yellow (6 C) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Somewhat reflexed 
Petals: number 
4, sometimes fasciated 
Pistils: aborted stamens &/or pistils 
Number per node: 
4 to 8 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1" to 2" long on flowering wood 
Stress Resistance: 
Summer foliage disease & insect 
resistant 
Utility Aspects: 
Summer pruning leads to shoot 
with chartreuse leaves (young) 
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Ser. No. 271,919 
MINIKIN 
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Plant: 
Habit Small stature, fine textured; small 
leaves and small stems; densely 
foliated 
Size, height 
2'-21/2' 
Size, width 3'-4' 
Vigor Good vigor but slow growth 
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower) 
Layers naturally 
Productivity 
Abundant seed pods 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Light green 
Color (mature) 
Brownish green 
Ascending strongly 
Rigidity lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Bright green to dark green 
(mature) Bright green to dark green 
(fall) Fading green until leaf drop 
Shape Linear 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Lightly serrate 
Size: 
length On vegetative shoots - 11/2" attached to 1/2" 
long slender petiole; smaller on flowering 
shoots 
width On vegetative shoots - 1/4"; 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Intermediate 
Size: width 1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed 
Color: Yellow (9 A) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes strongly reflexed, very small 
Petals: number 
4:- short and recurved 
Pistils: Short; 1/25" below pollen 
sacs of stamens 
Number per node: 
2-4 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: Short (Flowering shoots 1/4"-3/4" 
Vegetative shoots up to 2") 
Stress Resistance: 
Doesn't require same degree of winter prot- 
tection as most container grown plants of 
genre 
Utility Aspects: 
Blooming can be forced. Especially 
suited for container culture. 
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TABLE 5 
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Ser. No. 272,063 
LEMON SCREEN 
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Plant: 
Habit Tall, open and graceful; Upright, 
fan shape; vigorous; open 
foliage 
Size, height Up to 10' 
Size, width Hardy Zone 6b (or lower) 
Vigor Vigorous 
Hardiness 
Productivity Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/ 
pruned wood branches quickly 
Stems of Shoots: 
Color (young) 
Color (mature) Yellow 
Rigidity Slightly lamellate between nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse 
(appear after flowering) 
(mature) Normal green (Yellow-Green 144) 
whitish blotches 
(fall) Greyed Purple 187 B 
Shape 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
margins Serrate 
Size 
length Not distinguishing 
width Not distinguishing 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Early 
Size: width 11/2"-13/4" 
Color: Yellow (6 C) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Somewhat reflexed 
Petals: number 4, sometimes fasciated 
Pistils: aborted stamens &/or pistils 
Number per node: 
4 to 8 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1" to 2" long on flowering wood 
Stress Resistance: 
Summer foliage disease & insect 
resistant 
Utility Aspects: 
Summer pruning leads to shoot 
with chartreuse leaves (young) 
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Ser. No. 271,665 
FAIRY LAND 
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Plant: 
Habit Small overal & fine textured: 
Closely spaced flowers & leaves 
Dense (young) foliage 
Size, height 3'-4' 
Size, width 5'-6' 
Vigor Good vigor for size 
Hardiness Zone 6b (or lower) 
Productivity Few seed pods 
Stems or Shoots: 
Color (young) Light green 
Color (mature) Brownish green 
Rigidity Very flexible lamellate between 
nodes 
Leaves: 
Type Simple 
Color: 
(young) Medium green (fairly light) 
(mature) Medium green (fairly light) 
(fall) Mostly faded yellow 
Shape Lanceolate 
tip Accuminate 
base Attenuate 
On flowering wood; entire 
margins On vegetative wood: serrate top 1/3 
Size: 
length On flowering wood: - 11/2"-21/2" 
On vegetative shoots: about 3" 
width On flowering wood: 0.2"-0.4" 
On vegetative shoots 0.5-0.6" 
Venation Pinnate 
Flower: 
Date of Flowering 
Intermediate 
Size: width 3/4"-11/4" 
Color: Yellow (6 A) 
Corolla: 
length 
lobes Reflexed, small 
Petals: number Generally 4-many have 5, 6, 7 and 
8 on single corolla 
Pistils: Extend 3/25" to 4/25" above pollen 
sacs (anthers) of the stamen 
Number per node: 
2-4 
Insertion angle 
on upright stems: 
Internodes: 1/4" to about 1" 
Stress Resistance: 
Utility Aspects: 
Very well suited for 
container culture. 
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