Poinsettia plant named `Fisson`

A distinct cultivar of poinsettia plant named Fisson, characterized by the combined traits of bright red bract color, broad elliptic bracts with pointed lobes, medium tall but comparatively narrow plant habit with good branching, dark green foliage, and medium early flowering response.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of poinsettia 
plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima, and referred to by the 
cultivar name Fisson. 
The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program carried out by 
the inventor Katharina Zerr in Hillscheid, Germany. The general objective 
of the breeding program was to create new cultivars having red bract 
coloration, dark green foliage, and good branching ability. 
The new cultivar was originated from a hybridization made by the inventor 
in Hillscheid, Germany in 1992. The female parent was a proprietary hybrid 
seedling from unknown parentage and characterized by its bright red bract 
color and medium green foliage. The male parent was the cultivar Red 
Sails, an unpatented but commercial cultivar characterized by its strongly 
lobed red bracts and dark green foliage. 
Seeds from the cross germinated in November 1992, and in January 1993 a 
cutting was taken by the inventor from each seedling. The plants grown 
from these cuttings started flowering after short day treatment in May 
1993, and Fisson (Seedling No. 265) was selected from among these single 
stem plants. 
Following final selection, additional cuttings were taken by the inventor 
in Hillscheid, Germany from the original seedling No. 265 and these 
cuttings were grafted on rootstocks of the cultivar Peterstar to introduce 
better branching ability. Peterstar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 
8,259; is characterized by its bright red bract color, medium green 
foliage, comparatively compact plant habit, medium early flower response 
in autumn, and good branching ability. 
The grafted plants were grown out and asexually propagated by or under the 
supervision of the inventor in Hillscheid, Germany by taking leaf cuttings 
from the scion, for the purpose of building up mother stock and confirming 
the stability of the new cultivar. Horticultural examination initiated in 
autumn 1993 and continuing thereafter has demonstrated that the 
combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Fission are firmly 
fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual 
reproduction. The new cultivar has the excellent branching characteristics 
of Peterstar while retaining all other desirable characteristics of 
seedling No. 265. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Fisson which in combination distinguish this 
poinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Bright red flower color. 
2. Broad-elliptical bracts with pointed lobes. 
3. Medium tall, but comparatively narrow plant habit with good branching. 
4. Dark green foliage. 5. Medium early flowering response. 
Fisson 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 without, however, any 
variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and 
comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse 
conditions which approximate those generally used in commerical practice. 
Of the many commerical cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in 
comparison to Fisson is the cultivar Lilo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. 
No. 6,694. In general comparison to Lilo, Fisson has a lighter bright red 
flower color, similar dark green foliage, but broader plant habit and 
better branching ability. The flower response of Fisson is later, but 
bracts are already colored before cyathias mature. As a result, plants of 
Fisson are saleable at about the time as Lilo, but stay marketable for a 
longer time because cyathias hold very well and do not easily drop.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined 
indoors in a north light. The plants described were grown in Hillscheid, 
Germany (latitude 50.degree. N). They were planted as rooted cuttings into 
14 cm pots in early August, pinched in mid-August, and grown in the 
greenhouse under natural light conditions in late summer and autumn at 
18.degree. C. night temperature and 18.degree. to 24.degree. C. day 
temperature. Observations and measurements were taken at the beginning of 
flowering when 3 cyathias were open. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Euphorbia pulcherrima. 
Commerical.--Poinsettia, cv. Fisson. 
Parentage: 
Male parent.--Red Sails. 
Female parent.--A hybrid seedling from unknown parentage, having bright red 
bracts and medium green foliage. The resulting seedling No. 265 was 
grafted to the cultivar Peterstar to improve branching ability. 
Plant description: 
Form.--Bushy, comparatively narrow, 8-9 branches. 
Growth habit.--Medium height: 45-50 cm. 
Rooting.--Medium: 20-24 days. 
Blooming season.--From late November (about 9 weeks of response time). 
Blooming habit.--Saleable in mid-November, when 3-6 bracts are colored 
approximately 1-2 weeks before cyathias open. 
Foliage.--Size: Leaf is approximately 14 cm in length; petiole is 7 cm in 
length. Internodes: 30 mm. Color: New Foliage: Upper surface, medium to 
dark grren, 137A; under surface 137C. Old Foliage: Upper surface, dark 
green 139A; under surface 137B. Leaf Petiole: Dark red. Shape: Triangular 
with comparatively strong lobes, base somewhat wedge shaped. Texture: 
Upper side, smooth; lower side, weak veins. Edge of margin: Entire. 
Disease resistance: No specific diseases have been observed. 
Flowering description: 
Cyathias.--Borne: In a narrow cluster; may later grow somewhat apart. 
Quantity: 15-18. Retention: Good. 
Bracts.--Mature bracts are elliptical, with lobes and pointed tips; younger 
bracts are ovate, sometimes a little concave; largest colored bract with 
petiole is 18 cm long. 
Color.--Bright to dark red 45B. 
Aspect.--Bracts face somewhat upright. 
Reproductive organs: 
Glands, nectar cups.--Yellow. 
Stamens.--Dark red filament. 
Pollen.--Plentiful, yellow in color. 
Styles.--Dark red, 6-lobed stigma. 
Ovaries.--Triangular, 3-celled, 3 ovules.