Ipomoea plant named ‘Fncorre’

A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant named ‘Fncorre’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy growth habit; and medium to small coppery red-colored cordate-shaped leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofIpomoeaplant, botanically known asIpomoea batatas, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fncorre’.

The newIpomoeaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branchingIpomoeacultivars with attractive foliage shape and coloration.

The newIpomoeaplant originated from an open-pollination during the autumn of 2007 of an unnamed proprietary selection ofIpomoea batatas, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofIpomoea batatasas the male, or pollen, parent. The newIpomoeawas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lompoc, Calif. in March, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the newIpomoeaplant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lompoc, Calif. since April, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newIpomoeaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fncorre’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fncorre’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofIpomoea:1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.2. Freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy growth habit.3. Medium to small coppery red-colored cordate-shaped leaves.

Plants of the newIpomoeacan be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the newIpomoeadiffer from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newIpomoeahave cordate-shaped leaves whereas plants of the female parent selection have palmate-shaped leaves.2. Plants of the newIpomoeahave coppery red-colored leaves whereas plants of the female parent selection have dark purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the newIpomoeacan be compared to plants of theIpomoea batatas‘Sweet Caroline Red’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,483. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plants of the newIpomoeadiffered from plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Red’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newIpomoeawere more freely branching than plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Red’.2. Plants of the newIpomoeawere bushier and denser than plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Red’.

Plants of the newIpomoeacan be compared to plants of theIpomoea batatas‘Sweet Caroline Purple’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,912. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plants of the newIpomoeadiffered from plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newIpomoeawere more freely branching than plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’.2. Plants of the newIpomoeawere bushier and denser than plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’.3. Plants of the newIpomoeahad cordate-shaped coppery red-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’ had palmate-shaped dark purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the newIpomoeacan also be compared to plants of theIpomoea batatas‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,437. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plants of the newIpomoeadiffered from plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newIpomoeawere more freely branching than plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’.2. Plants of the newIpomoeawere bushier and denser than plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’.3. Plants of the newIpomoeahad cordate-shaped coppery red-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ had palmate-shaped rusty red-colored leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif. in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercialIpomoeaproduction. During the production of the plants, average day temperatures were 22° C. and average night temperatures were 17° C. Plants were grown in 15-cm containers and were six weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Ipomoea batatas‘Fncorre’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection ofIpomoea batatas, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection ofIpomoea batatas, not patented.Propagation:Type.—By terminal cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at temperatures of 24° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at temperatures of 18° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve days at temperatures of 24° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 18 days at temperatures of 18° C.Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.Tuber description.—Tuber development has not been observed on plants of the newIpomoea.Plant description:Plant habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy habit; pinching is typically not required; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.Plant height.—About 15.5 cm.Plant diameter.—About 36 cm.Lateral branch description:Quantity per plant.—About eight lateral branches develop per plant.Length.—About 7 cm.Diameter.—About 4 mm.Internode length.—About 8 mm.Strength.—Strong.Texture.—Pubescent.Color, young.—Close to 145C.Color, developed.—Close to 187B.Foliage description:Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.Length.—About 9 cm.Width.—About 5.5 cm.Shape.—Cordate.Apex.—Acuminate.Base.—Cordate.Margin.—Entire.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.Venation pattern.—Palmate; arcuate to reticulate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 151A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: More grey than 187A, venation, close to 187B; with development, color becoming closer to 152A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N79B; venation, close to 187B; with development, color becoming more grey than N79B.Petiole.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 187B.Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on plants of the newIpomoea.Temperature tolerance: Plants of the newIpomoeahave been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the newIpomoeahave not been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common toIpomoea.