Rose plant--Meinagre variety

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which abundantly and continuously forms attractive long lasting currant red semi-double blossoms. The plant is bushy, low, compact, and well-balanced, and exhibits vigorous vegetation. The new variety is particularly well suited for the decoration of parks and gardens. Good resistance to cryptogamic diseases also is exhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The new variety of Floribunda rose plant was created by artificial 
pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been 
studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired 
characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new 
variety was the Meinececa variety (nonpatented in the United States). The 
male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the Lilli 
Marlene variety U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,986). The parentage of the new 
variety can be summarized as follows: 
EQU Meinececa.times.Lilli Marlene. 
The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 96 small 
plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from 
each other. Selective study resulted in the identificaiton of a single 
plant of the new variety. 
The new variety meets well the needs of the horticultural industry for all 
uses, and is particularly well suited for growing in parks and gardens. 
It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of the present 
invention possesses the following combination of characteristics: 
(a) forms attractive long lasting semi-double blossoms which are currant 
red in coloration, 
(b) forms vigorous vegetation, 
(c) exhibits a bushy, low, compact and well-balanced growth habit, and 
(d) is particularly well suited for the decoration of parks and gardens. 
The new variety undergoes asexual propagation by various routes, including 
budding, grafting, cuttage, etc. Asexual reproduction by the above 
mentioned methods as performed in France shows that the characteristics of 
the new variety are strictly transmissable from one generation to another. 
The new variety has been maned the Meinagre variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of the Royal 
Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology which 
precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the 
corresponding color in more common terms. The description is based on two 
year old specimens of the new variety during September while grafted on 
Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at LeCannet-des-Maures, 
Var, France. 
Class: Floribunda. 
Plant: 
Height.--Approximately 60 to 80 cm. on average. 
Habit.--Bushy. 
Branches: 
Color.--Young Stems: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146C, widely stained 
with reddish brown coloration. Adult wood: light green, Yellow-Green Group 
146C. 
Thorns.--Size: medium, Quantity: average, mixed with small prickles and 
glandular acicules. Color: reddish with greenish tips on young stems and 
pinkish-green changing to tan on adult wood. 
Leaves: 
Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, fairly wide and linear, ending with two 
leaf-like appendices. 
Petioles.--Upper Surface: Striped, reddish brown on young foliage and 
medium green on adult foliage with more or less glandular edges. Under 
Surface: light green, with a few prickles. 
Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and sometimes 7. Shape: oval. Serration: single 
and regular. Texture: consistent. General Appearance: dense, bright 
foliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: medium green, Yellow-Green 
Group 146B, more or less suffused with reddish coloration. Under Surface: 
light green, Yellow-Green Group 146C, more or less suffused with reddish 
coloration. Color (adult foliage): Upper Surface: dark green, Yellow-Green 
Group 147A. Under Surface: medium green, Yellow-Green Group 147B. 
Inflorescence: 
Number of flowers.--Commonly 1 to 6 per stem. 
Peduncle.--Approximately 5 to 6 cm. in length on average. 
Sepals.--Upper Surface: tomentose and greenish, widely stained with reddish 
coloration. Under surface: medium green in coloration, the outer sepals 
have glandular edges which are only slightly appendiculated. 
Buds.--Shape: conical. Length: approximately 3 cm. on average. Size: 
medium. Color upon opening: Upper surface: Velvety cardinal red, Red Group 
53A, with a yellowish base. Under surface: guardsman red, Red Group 45A, 
with a yellowish base. 
Flower.--Shape: cuplike and semi-double. Diameter: approximately 7 to 9 cm. 
on average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: velvety currant 
red, Red Group 46A, whitish at the base of the petals. Under surface: 
velvety currant red, Red Group 46A, suffused with medium currant red, Red 
Group 46B, whitish at the base of the petals. Color (when blooming): Upper 
surface: velvety currant red, Red Group 46A, whitish at the base of the 
petals. Under surface: velvety currant red, Red Group 46A, suffused with 
turkey red, Red Group 46C, whitish at the base of the petals. Color (at 
end of opening): Upper surface: medium currant red, Red Group 46B, whitish 
at the base of the petals. Under surface: medium currant red, Red Group 
46B, suffused with dark neyron rose, Red Group 55A, whitish at the base of 
the petals. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality: long. Petal drop: good. 
Petal number: approximately 14 to 15 on average. Petal texture: 
consistent. Petal form: The outer petals tend to be rounded, and the inner 
petals tend to be oval and more or less indented. Stamen number: 
approximately 98 to 102 on average. Anthers: normal, straw edges with 
ochre. Filaments: greenish and of irregular heights. Pistils: 
approximately 40 to 44 on average. Stigmas: normal, bright yellow. Styles: 
greenish and of irregular heights. Receptacle: light green, smooth, and in 
longitudinal section in the shape of a pear. 
Development: 
Vegetation.--Vigorous. 
Blooming.--Very floriferous with continuous blooming throughout the season. 
Aptitude to bear fruit.--Good. 
Resistance to diseases.--Very good. 
Resistance to frost.--Good.