Poinsettia plant named &#8216;Eckakmal&#8217;

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named &#8216;Eckakmal&#8217;, characterized by its inflorescences with light red-colored flower bracts that fade to pink with development; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and mounded plant habit; early flowering habit; and excellent post-production longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., and hereinafter referred to by the name Eckakmal .

The new Poinsettia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Poinsettia cultivars having flower bracts with desirable colors, uniform plant habit and excellent post-production longevity.

The new Poinsettia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. cultivar Eckadria, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,725. The new Poinsettia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the cultivar Eckadria on Jun. 17, 2000, in a controlled environment in Encinitas, Calif. The selection of this plant was based on its light red-colored flower bracts.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia by terminal cuttings propagated in a controlled environment in Encinitas, Calif., since July, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of Eckakmal . These characteristics in combination distinguish Eckakmal as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Inflorescences with light red-colored flower bracts that fade to pink with development.

3. Uniform and mounded plant habit.

4. Early flowering; natural season flower maturity date is mid to late November for plants grown in Encinitas, Calif.; response time, about 8 weeks.

Plants of the new Poinsettia are most similar to the parent, the cultivar Eckadria. Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the parent in flower bract coloration as plants of the cultivar Eckadria have red and pink bi-colored flower bracts.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and averaged measurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif. during the autumn and winter under commercial practice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 24 to 29 C., night temperatures about 19 C., and light levels about 4,000 foot-candles. Single plants were grown in 16.5-cm pots and pinched once. Plants were flowered under natural season short day/long night conditions. Plants were about 17 weeks from unrooted cuttings when the photographs and the detailed botanical description were taken.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Time to initiate roots. About 10 days at 20 to 22 C.

Time to develop roots. About 28 days at 24 C.

Plant form. Inverted triangle; top of plant mounded.

Growth habit. Upright and uniform plant habit. Vigorous.

Plant diameter or spread. About 52 cm.

Inflorescence type and habit. Inflorescences are compound corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia. One inflorescence per lateral branch. Flowers are not fragrant. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season. Autumn/winter in Northern Hemisphere. Flower initiation and development is induced under long nyctoperiod conditions. Early flowering, response time, about 8 weeks; natural season flower maturity date is mid to late November for plants grown in Encinitas, Calif.

Post - production longevity. Plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and bract color for about four weeks under interior conditions.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Poinsettias has not been observed on plants grown under commercial conditions.