Geranium plant named `BFP-1697`

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `BFP-1697`, characterized by its numerous semi-double purple-colored flowers with white centers; upright and rounded growth habit; vigorous and basal branching; and medium green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium 
plant, botanically known as Pelargonium.times.hortorum, and hereinafter 
referred to by the cultivar name `BFP-1697`. 
The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by 
the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding 
program was to develop new cultivars with excellent basal branching, 
medium growth habit, numerous flowers and umbels, and interesting flower 
and foliage colors. 
The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor of the 
proprietary Pelargonium.times.hortorum selection 8410 as the male, or 
pollen parent, with the proprietary Pelargonium.times.hortorum selection 
690 as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar `BFP-1697` was discovered 
and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of 
the stated cross in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif., on 
Sep. 15, 1996. 
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at 
Arroyo Grande, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new 
Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations 
of asexual reproduction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
the unique characteristics of `BFP-1697`. These characteristics in 
combination distinguish `BFP-1697` as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Numerous semi-double purple-colored flowers with white centers. 
2. Upright and rounded growth habit. 
3. Vigorous and basal branching. 
4. Medium green leaves. 
The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, `Fox` (disclosed in U.S. 
Plant Pat. No. 7,083). However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by 
the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differ 
from plants of the cultivar `Fox` in the following characteristics: 
1. Plants of the new Geranium are more freely branching than plants of the 
cultivar `Fox`. 
2. Plants of the new Geranium have much shorter lateral branches than 
plants of the cultivar `Fox`. 
3. Plants of the new Geranium have shorter leaves and fewer leaves per 
lateral branch than plants of the cultivar `Fox`. 
4. Leaves of the new Geranium do not have a discernible zonation pattern 
whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar `Fox` do have a discernible 
zonation pattern. 
5. Flower umbels of plants of the new Geranium are smaller and have smaller 
flowers than flower umbels of plants of the cultivar `Fox`. 
6. Flower color of plants of the new Geranium is deeper purple than flower 
color of plants of the cultivar `Fox`. 
7. Plants of the new Geranium have longer peduncles than plants of the 
cultivar `Fox`. 
A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar `BFP-1697` and the cultivar 
`Fox` appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
The cultivar `BFP-1697` has not been observed under all possible 
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations 
in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, 
any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and 
comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots in Arroyo Grande, Calif., 
under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with day 
temperatures about 22.degree. C. and night temperatures about 18.degree. 
C. 
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary 
dictionary significance are used. 
Botanical classification: Pelargonium.times.hortorum cultivar `BFP-1697`. 
Parentage: 
Male parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium.times.hortorum selection 8410. 
Female parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium.times.hortorum selection 690. 
Propagation: 
Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings. 
Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days at temperatures about 18.degree. C. 
Time to develop roots.--About 21 days at temperatures about 18.degree. C. 
Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching. 
Plant description: 
General appearance.--Upright and rounded growth habit, vigorous. 
Appropriate for 10 and 12.5-cm containers. About nine weeks are required 
to produced a finished 10-cm container from a rooted cutting. 
Growth and branching habit.--Basally branching with about three lateral 
branches at the base. 
Plant height, base of plant to top of leaf plane.--About 21 cm. 
plant width.--About 22.6 cm. 
Lateral branches.--Length: About 5.5 cm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. 
Color: 144A. 
Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, 
opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About nine. Length: About 
4.7 cm. Width: About 8.8 cm. Shape: Reniform with rounded apex, cordate 
base, crenate and undulating margin. Texture: Dull, upper surface 
pubescent. Color: Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Slightly lighter 
than 147A at base, 147A towards margin. Fully expanded foliage, lower 
surface; 147B. Venation, upper surface: 144B. Venation, lower surface: 
144B. Petiole: Length: About 8.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: 144A. 
Flower description: 
Flower type and habit.--Purple-colored flowers. Very freely and 
continuously flowering. Flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels arising 
from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above or beyond the foliage. 
Usually about five umbels per plant. Flowers semi-double and round. Umbels 
persistent. 
Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, 
flowering is continuous from spring through summer. 
Umbels.--Number of flowers per umbel: About 30. Diameter: About 8.9 cm. 
Height: About 5.5 cm. 
Flowers.--Diameter: About 4 cm. Depth (height): About 2 cm. 
Flower buds.--Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Elliptic. 
Petals.--Quantity: About five or six petals with usually about two 
petaloids, overlapping. Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: 
Obovate with rounded apex and entire margin. Texture: Smooth. Color: Fully 
opened, upper surface: 74A with white at base giving the flower a 
"white-eyed" appearance. Fully opened, lower surface: 74C. Petaloids: 
Irregular in shape with very narrow white, 155D, base; about 1 cm in 
length and about 3 mm in width; 74A in color. 
Peduncle (umbel stem).--Length: About 15.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Angle: 
Mostly erect. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 143C overlaid with 183B becoming 
more red, 183B, with age. 
Pedicel (individual flower stem).--Length: About 3.8 cm. Strength: Strong. 
Angle: Upright or outward. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 183B. 
Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Anther size: About 1.5 mm. Amount of 
pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 167A. Gynoecium: Ovary color: Green. 
Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance to pathogens 
has not been observed. 
Seed development: Seed production has not been observed. 
CHART A 
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CHARACTERISTIC 
`BFP-1697` `FOX` 
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PLANT HEIGHT About 21 cm About 21 cm 
PLANT WIDTH About 22.6 cm 
About 21 cm 
NUMBER OF BASAL 
About 3 About 2 
BRANCHES 
LATERAL BRANCH 
About 5.5 cm 
About 10 cm 
LENGTH 
INTERNODE LENGTH 
About 1.8 cm 
About 1.5 cm 
QUANTITY OF LEAVES 
About 9 About 15 
PER LATERAL 
BRANCH 
LEAF LENGTH About 4.7 cm 
About 7.5 cm 
LEAF WIDTH About 8.8 cm 
About 8.8 cm 
LEAF COLOR, UPPER 
Slightly lighter 
137B, slight zonation 
SURFACE than 147A at 
pattern, 137A 
base, 147A to- 
wards margin 
UMBEL DIAMETER 
About 8.9 cm 
About 10 cm 
UMBEL HEIGHT About 5.5 cm 
About 7 cm 
FLOWER DIAMETER 
About 4 cm About 5 cm 
QUANTITY OF About 9 About 16 
PETALS/PETALOIDS 
PER FLOWER 
PETAL COLOR, UPPER 
74A with white 
66A with reddish, 43A, 
SURFACE base base 
PETAL COLOR, LOWER 
74C 61C 
SURFACE 
PEDUNCLE LENGTH 
About 15.2 cm 
About 13 cm 
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