A new and distinct cultivar of Senecio plant named ‘Sene Igonina’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with ray florets that are dark reddish purple in color.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSenecioplant, botanically known asSenecio cruentus, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sene Igonina’.

The newSenecioplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new upright, uniformly mounding and vigorousSenecioplants with a freely-branching habit, early flowering and numerous attractive inflorescences.

The newSenecioplant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in March, 2015 of a proprietary selection ofSenecio cruentusidentified as code designation 15BonS-13-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofSenecio cruentusidentified as code designation 15BonS-13-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newSenecioplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in February, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the newSenecioplant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this newSenecioplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newSeneciohave not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sene Igonina’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sene Igonina’ as a new and distinctSenecioplant:1. Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.2. Vigorous growth habit.3. Freely branching habit.4. Freely flowering habit.5. Large daisy-type inflorescences with ray florets that are dark reddish purple in color.

Plants of the newSeneciocan be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the newSeneciodiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant size as plants of the newSenecioare shorter than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the newSeneciohave larger inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the newSeneciocan be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the newSeneciodiffer primarily from plants of the male parent selection in plant size as plants of the newSenecioare shorter than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the newSeneciohave larger inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the newSeneciocan also be compared to plants ofSenecio cruentus‘Sunsenere’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,162. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newSeneciodiffer from plants of ‘Sunsenere’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newSeneciohave smaller and darker green- colored leaves with shorter petioles than plants of ‘Sunsenere’.2. Plants of the newSenecioare more freely flowering than plants of ‘Sunsenere’.3. Plants of the newSenecioflower later than plants of ‘Sunsenere’.4. Plants of the newSeneciohave larger inflorescences than plants of ‘Sunsenere’.5. Ray florets of plants of the newSenecioare darker reddish purple in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Sunsenere’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 24-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercialSenecioproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 10° C. and night temperatures averaged 5° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were six months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Senecio cruentus‘Sene Igonina’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofSenecio cruentusidentified as code designation 15BonS-13-1, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofSenecio cruentusidentified as code designation 15BonS-13-2, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; large daisy-type inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with about six primary branches each with numerous secondary branches.Plant height.—About 23 cm.Plant diameter.—About 51 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 3.3 mm. Internode length: About 3.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143B.Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 7.3 cm. Width: About 8.5 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Senate; moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent, rough; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to 138B. Leaf petioles: Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C variably tinged with close to NN77B.Inflorescence description:Appearance.—Large daisy-type inflorescences with linear-shaped ray florets; inflorescences arising from upper leaf axils and positioned above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 144 inflorescences developing per plant during the flowering season.Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant, pleasant.Natural flowering season.—Plants of the newSeneciobegin flowering about 22 weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from winter to late spring in Japan.Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 6.2 mm. Shape: Globose. Color: Close to N78A.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm.Receptacles.—Diameter: About 7.5 mm. Height: About 1.4 mm. Color: Close to 139D.Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 13 per inflorescence arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire, not undulate. Aspect: Initially upright, then horizontal; flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Darker than NN78A. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN78A. Fully opened, upper surface: Darker than NN78A; venation, darker than NN7 8A; color does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN78A; midvein, close to 75D, and lateral venation, close to NN78A; color does not change with subsequent development.Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 118. Length: About 7.9 mm. Diameter, at apex: About 1.5 mm. Diameter, at base: About 0.8 mm. Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: Close to N78A. Color, mature: Close to N80A.Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 13 per inflorescence arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.9 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 137C and 138B. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.Peduncles.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to NN137A variably tinged with close to 187B.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size: About 0.8 mm by 1.3 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly ellipsoidal. Anther color: Close to N79B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About 7.2 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to N79B. Style color: Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the newSenecio.Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the newSeneciohave not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toSenecioplants.Temperature tolerance: Plants of the newSeneciohave been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 30° C.