Geranium plant named Fledermaus

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named Fledermaus, particularly characterized by the combined features of orange-rose flower color, small leaves and relatively small plant size, very fast rooting, excellent branching, and early flowering.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium, 
botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by 
the cultivar name Fledermaus. 
Fledermaus is a product of planned breeding program which had the objective 
of creating new geranium cultivars with salmon flower color, semi-double 
flower form, short plant height, fast rooting, good branching, durable 
flowers, good zonation, and good chlorophyll quality for transportation. 
Fledermaus was originated from a hybridization made in a controlled 
breeding program in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany in 1979. The 
female parent was the unpatented cultivar Hillscheider Erfolg, 
characterized by its salmon semi-double flowers, good zonation, but 
inferior flower quality. The male parent of Fledermaus was the unpatented 
cultivar .RTM. Lachsball, a cultivar having salmon semi-double flowers, 
no zonation, compact habit, and a fast rooting habit. 
Fledermaus was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the 
progeny of the stated cross by Ingeborg Schumann on June 27, 1980 in a 
controlled environment in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Fledermaus was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in January, 1981 
in a controlled environment in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany by 
a technician working under formulations established and supervised by 
Ingeborg Schumann. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated 
in the Spring of 1981 and continued in 1982 has demonstrated that the 
combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Fledermaus are 
firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual 
reproduction. 
Fledermaus has not been observed under all possible environmental 
conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in 
environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. The 
following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants 
grown in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany under greenhouse 
conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Fledermaus which in combination distinguish this 
geranium as a new and distinct cultivar. 
1. Orange-rose flower color. 
2. Small leaves and relatively small plant size, thereby permitting 
economic production. 
3. Very fast rooting. 
4. Excellent branching, producing an average of 4.5 branches per plant. 
5. Dark green foliage color. 
6. No growth treatment necessary. 
7. Early flowering. 
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most 
similar in comparison to Fledermaus is the female parent Hillscheider 
Erfolg. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain 
characteristics of Fledermaus to those same characteristics of 
Hillscheider Erfolg. In general comparison to Hillscheider Erfolg, 
Fledermaus has superior branching, smaller leaves and plant size, faster 
rooting, superior flower production, and a much earlier response.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart. In certain instances, color values 
have alternatively or additionally been given from The Horticultural Color 
Chart (H.C.C.). The color values were determined between 2:10 and 2:25 
P.M. on Aug. 12, 1983 under 20,000 Klux at Hillscheid, Federal Republic of 
Germany.