Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Grenadine

A Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Grenadine particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; coral-red ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 69 to 75 mm when fully opened; plant height of 33 to 46 cm at time of flowering, based on June 15 planting under natural daylength in Hightstown, N.J.; spreading branching pattern; average natural season flower date of August 31 in Salinas, Calif. and September 27 in Hightstown, N.J.; flowering response in photoperiodic controlled flowering programs of 49 to 54 days after start of short days; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of 
Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred 
to by the cultivar name Dark Grenadine. 
Dark Grenadine, identified as 77-463B04, is a product of a mutation 
induction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by 
Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Sept. 7, 1984 in a controlled environment in 
Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block 
established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as 
unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1,750 rads. The irradiated parent 
cultivar was Grenadine, a coral-bronze flat decorative garden mum, 
disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,338. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Dark Grenadine was accomplished 
when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November 
1984 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians 
working under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg. 
Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings 
has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein 
disclosed for Dark Grenadine are firmly fixed and are retained through 
successive generations of asexual reproduction. 
Dark Grenadine has not been observed under all possible environmental 
conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in 
environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. 
The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants 
grown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif. and in Hightstown, N.J., 
and photoperiodic controlled programs conducted in Salinas, Calif. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Dark Grenadine, which, in combination, 
distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Flat capitulum form. 
2. Decorative capitulum type. 
3. Coral-red ray floret color. 
4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 69 to 75 mm when fully open. 
5. Plant height ranging from 33 to 46 cm from soil line at time of 
flowering, based on June 15 planting under natural daylength in 
Hightstown, N.J. 
6. Spreading branching pattern, with an average of 7 to 8 branches per 
plant after pinch two weeks after planting a rooted cutting in Hightstown, 
N.J. 
7. Average natural season flower date of August 31 in Salinas, Calif. and 
September 27 in Hightstown, N.J., based on several years of trial 
flowering. 
8. Flowering response in photoperiodic controlled flowering programs of 49 
to 54 days after start of short days. 
9. Durable, uniform performance.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in 
comparison to Dark Grenadine is the parent cultivar Grenadine. All traits 
of Dark Grenadine are similar to those of Grenadine, except the color of 
ray florets. The color of the ray florets of Dark Grenadine is a unique 
coral-red, darker than the color of Grenadine, which is described as 
coral-bronze and identified in the noted plant patent by the color values 
182C oxidizing to 182D and 181D on the upper ray floret surface. The color 
of Dark Grenadine has a substantially greater red tone, resulting in the 
respective cultivars having a distinctly different color impression. 
In the following description color references are made to the Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The actual color of Dark Grenadine is 
not represented in the R.H.S. Colour Chart, and the values given are those 
closest to the actual color of Dark Grenadine. The color values were 
determined on plant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, 
Calif. on Sept. 19, 1989. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Dark Grenadine. 
Commercial.--Decorative spray pot mum and garden mum. 
INFLORESCENCE 
A. Capitulum: 
Form.--Flat. 
Type.--Decorative. 
Diameter across face.--69 to 75 mm when fully open. 
B. Corolla of ray florets: 
Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Coral-red. 
Color (upper surface).--Closest to 179A, fading to 179B. 
Color (under surface).--Closest to 179C. 
Shape.--Straight, oblong. 
C. Corolla of disc florets: 
Color (mature).--14A. 
Color (immature).--2A. Very few disc florets, covered by inner rows of ray 
florets. Under certain conditions disc florets are not present. 
D. Reproductive organs: 
Androecium.--Present on disc florets only, very few; scant pollen. 
Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets. 
PLANT 
A. General appearance: 
Height.--Ranging from 33 to 46 cm from soil line at time of flowering, 
based on June 15 planting under natural daylength in Hightstown, N.J. 
Branching pattern.--Spreading. 
B. Foliage: 
Color (upper surface).--147A. 
Color (under surface).--147B. 
Shape.--See photograph.