Hybrid Tea rose plant named `Meinalpir`

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which forms attractive blossoms that are smoked red on the inner surface and cream with tones of silver on the outer surface. Such blossoms posses no fragrance. The plant exhibits an erect growth habit, broad decorative dark green and semi-glossy foliage, and good disease resistance. The new variety is particularly well suited for producing cut flowers under greenhouse growing conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The new variety of Hybrid Tea 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 product of the cross of the `Meikola` variety (U.S. Plant 
Pat. No. 5,607) and the `Jelpirofor` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,632). 
The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the `Meibiranda` variety 
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,705). The parentage of the new variety can be 
summarized as follows: 
EQU (`Meikola`.times.`Jelpirofor`).times.(`Meibiranda`). 
The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants 
were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each 
other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of 
the new variety. It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose 
plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of 
characteristics: 
(a) forms attractive blossoms that are smoked red on the inner surface and 
cream with tones of silver on the outer surface, 
(b) exhibits an erect growth habit, 
(c) forms decorative broad foliage that is dark green and semi-glossy, 
(d) exhibits good disease resistance with respect to Downey Mildew and 
Botrytis, and 
(e) is particularly well suited for the production of cut flowers under 
greenhouse growing conditions. 
The blossoms are "smoked" in the sense that bluish shades are present with 
the red coloration and convey an overall red-purple coloration. The 
blossoms exhibit more of the bluish shades upon maturation as oxidation 
progresses. The "silver" tones convey a slightly metallic impression to 
the appearance of the blossoms. 
The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and 
exhibits good productivity during cut flower production in a greenhouse. 
The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by 
a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexual 
propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown that the 
characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly 
transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. 
The new variety has been named the `Meinalpir` 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 description is based on 
the observation of one and one-half year-old plants during November while 
budded on Rosa indica understock and growing indoors at Le Cannet des 
Maures, Var, France. The coloration in common terms precedes reference to 
the chart in some instances. 
Class: Hybrid Tea. 
Plant: 
Height.--When pruned to a height of 85 cm., floral stems of approximately 
50 to 70 cm. in length commonly are produced. 
Habit.--Erect. 
Branches: 
Color.--Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144B and widely suffused with 
reddish coloration. Adult wood: near Yellow-Green Group 147B. 
Thorns.--Size: medium (as illustrated). Quantity: numerous. Color: brownish 
to reddish brown, Greyed-Orange Group 176B on young wood, and 
Greyed-Orange Group 175A and 175B on adult wood. 
Leaves: 
Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, broad and linear and Yellow-Green Group 147A 
in coloration. 
Petioles.--Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146D in coloration and more or 
less glandular in nature. Under surface: light green, Yellow-Green Group 
146C and bear some small thorns. 
Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: oval and broad. Size: 
medium. Serration: regular (as illustrated). Texture: consistent. General 
appearance: dense, medium green, and semi-glossy. Color (young foliage): 
Upper syrface: near Green Group 138A, and widely suffused with reddish 
coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147C. Color (adult 
foliage): Upper surface: dark green, near Green Group 139A. Under surface: 
light green, near Green Group 138A. 
Inflorescence: 
Number of flowers.--Usually one flower per stem. 
Peduncle.--Light green, near Yellow-Green Group 146B in coloration, and the 
length is approximately 12 cm. on average. 
Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose and greenish Yellow-Green Group 146B in 
coloration. Under surface: light green in coloration and commonly with 
some extensions (as illustrated). 
Buds.--Shape: conical. Size: large. Length: approximately 3 to 4 cm. on 
average. Color upon opening: Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 61A. 
Under surface: near Red-Purple Group 61D and widely suffused with 
Red-Purple Group 61B and bordered with Red-Purple Group 61A. 
Flower.--Shape: cupped with substantially parallel sides. Diameter: 
commonly approximately 10 to 13 cm. on average. Color (when opening 
begins): Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 61A. Under surface: near 
Red-Purple Group 61D and suffused with Red-Purple Group 61B and bordered 
with Red-Purple Group 61A. Color (when blooming): Uper surface: near 
Red-Purple Group 61A. Under surface: near Red-Purple Group 61D and 
suffused with Red-Purple Group 61B and bordered with Red-Purple Group 61A. 
Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 61A. Under 
surface: near Red-Purple Group 61D and suffused with Red-Purple Group 61B 
and bordered with Red-Purple Group 61A. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality: 
approximately 6 to 8 days on the plant and approximately 8 to 10 days when 
cut and placed in a vase. Petal number: commonly approximately 20 to 25 on 
average. Petal shape: rounded with reflexed edges. Petal drop: The petals 
commonly detach cleanly. Stamen number: approximately 100 on average. 
Anthers: canary yellow in coloration. Filaments: pinkish in coloration. 
Pistils: approximately 135 to 140 on average. Stigmas: substantially white 
in coloration. Styles: reddish in coloration. Receptacle: light green, 
Yellow Green Group 146C in coloration, smooth, and in longitudinal section 
in the shape of a pear. Hips: are formed following artificial pollination. 
Development: 
Vegetation.--Vigorous. 
Blooming.--Abundant, and commonly produces 140 to 160 flowers/m..sup.2 
/year. 
Resistance to disease.--Good with respect to Downey Mildew and Botrytis.