Chrysanthemum plant named Falma

A Chrysanthemum plant named Falma having flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; yellow orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.5 cm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown single stem; 15 to 25 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; and 13.degree. C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering buds.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of 
Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Falma. 
Falma is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of 
creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars having low temperature tolerance for 
cut spray mum programs with decorative capitulum type, orange ray floret 
color, eight to nine week flowering response, and the ability to produce 
commercially acceptable quality in year-round programs. Such traits in 
combination were not present or required improvements in previously 
available commercial cultivars. 
Falma, identified as 81795030, was originated from a cross made by William 
E. Duffett in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1980. 
The female parent was the cultivar identified as Riot, disclosed in my 
U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,403, Riot being originated from a hybridization of 
unnamed seedlings. The male parent of Falma, identified as 79378001, was 
an unnamed seedling. 
Falma was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny 
of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on Nov. 6, 1981 in a controlled 
environment in Bogota, Colombia. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Falma was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in January of 
1982 in a controlled environment in Bogota, Colombia by technicians 
working under formulations established and supervised by William E. 
Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated Sept. 21, 
1982 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein 
disclosed for Falma are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
Falma 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 observations, 
measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and 
Bogota, Colombia 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 Falma which in combination distinguish this 
chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: 
(1) Flat capitulum form. 
(2) Decorative capitulum type. 
(3) Yellow orange ray floret color. 
(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.5 cm. at 
maturity. 
(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days. 
(6) Medium peduncle length, ranging from 15 to 25 cm. 
(7) Tall plant height, requiring two long day weeks prior to short days to 
attain a flowered plant height of 110 to 120 cm. for year-round 
flowerings. 
(8) Low temperature tolerance of 13.degree. C. for initiation and 
development when grown in single stem cut spray programs with a continuous 
dark period of 12 to 13 hours.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor the most 
similar in comparison to Falma is Show Off. Reference is made to attached 
Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Falma to those same 
characteristics of Show Off. Similar traits are type, form, color, 
response and low temperature tolerance. Falma develops longer peduncles, 
has a smaller capitulum diameter and a taller plant height. 
In the following description, color references are made to the Munsell Book 
of Color, Cabinet edition, and to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour 
Chart. 
The exact colors for corolla of ray florets are not represented in either 
the Munsell Book of Color (MBC) or The Royal Horticultural Society Colour 
Chart (RHS), and the color values given are those closest to the actual 
color of Falma. The color values were determined on plant material grown 
in Salinas, Calif. on July 18, 1985. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Falma. 
Commercial.--Decorative cut spray mum. 
I. INFLORESCENCE 
A. Capitulum: 
Form.--Flat. 
Type.--Decorative. 
Diameter across face.--5 to 6.5 cm. 
B. Corolla of ray florets: 
Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Yellow orange. 
Color (upper surface).--MBC: 7.5 YR 6/14; RHS 22A. 
Color (under surface).--MBC: 1.25 Y 8/12; RHS 15B. 
Shape.--Short, broad, rounded tip. 
C. Corolla of disc florets: 
Color (mature).--RHS: 3A. 
Color (immature).--RHS: 154A. 
D. Reproductive organs: 
Androecium.--Present disc florets only; 1-3 disc florets per inflorescence; 
scant pollen. 
Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets. 
II. PLANT 
A. General appearance: 
Height.--Tall; 110 to 120 cm., as a flowering plant from a rooted cutting, 
with 14 long days for year-round flowerings maintaining a minimum nightly 
12 hour continuous dark period. 
B. Foliage: 
Color (upper surface).--RHS 147A. 
Color (under surface).--RHS 137B. 
Shape.--Shallow lobed and moderate serration. 
CHART A 
______________________________________ 
COMISON OF FALMA AND SHOW OFF 
______________________________________ 
DIAM- 
ETER 
CAPI- ACROSS 
RAY TULUM SPRAY FACE OF 
FLORET FORM AND FOR- CAPI- 
COLOR TYPE MATION TULUM 
______________________________________ 
FALMA YELLOW FLAT 15 to 25 cm. 
5 to 6.5 cm. 
ORANGE DECORA- PEDUN- 
TIVE CLES 
SHOW AMBER FLAT 8 to 12 cm. 
6 to 8 cm. 
OFF BRONZE DECORA- PEDUN- 
TIVE CLES 
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FLOWERING LOW 
PLANT RESPONSE TEMPERATURE 
HEIGHT PERIOD TOLERANCE 
______________________________________ 
FALMA TALL NINE WEEKS 13.degree. C. 
110 to 
120 cm. 
SHOW MEDIUM NINE WEEKS 13.degree. C. 
OFF 80 to 
90 cm. 
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COMISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS 
SINGLE STEM CUT SPRAY MUMS WITH 
14 LONG DAYS IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA