Begonia plant named `Abidan`

A distinct variety of Begonia plant named `Abidan`, characterized by its large dark pink flowers that are about 6 cm in diameter; fully double flowers with numerous tepals per flower; compact, upright and spreading plant form; freely branching; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Begonia 
plant, botanically known as Begonia.times.hiemalis, commercially known as 
Elatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name `Abidan`. 
The new Begonia was discovered by the inventor in a controlled environment 
in Ermelo, The Netherlands, in December, 1993, as a naturally-occurring 
mutation of Begonia.times.hiemalis `Azotus`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. 
No. 9,504. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a group of 
flowering plants of the parent variety. The selection of this plant was 
based on its more intense flower color than the parent variety. 
Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by terminal cuttings taken in a 
controlled environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, has shown that the 
unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type 
in successive generations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The variety `Abidan` has not been observed under all possible environmental 
conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment 
such as temperature, daylength 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 `Abidan`. These characteristics in 
combination distinguish `Abidan` as a new and distinct Begonia: 
1. Dark pink flowers that are about 6 cm in diameter. 
2. Fully double flowers with numerous tepals per flower. 
3. Compact, upright and spreading plant form. 
4. Freely branching plant habit. 
5. Excellent postproduction longevity. 
In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the inventor in Ermelo, The 
Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of the parent, 
`Azotus`, in the following characteristics: 
1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than plants of 
`Azotus`. 
2. Plants of the new Begonia are more compact than plants of `Azotus`. 
3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia have a more intense and darker pink 
flower color than plants of `Azotus`. 
4. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more double, that is, have more 
tepals, than plants of `Azotus`.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary 
dictionary significance are used. The following observations and 
measurements describe plants grown in Ermelo, The Netherlands, under 
commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Average day and night 
temperatures were 20.degree. C. during the first three to four weeks then 
lowered to an average day and night temperature of 19.degree. C. until 
flowering. Four weeks after planting, two weeks of long nyctoperiods were 
given followed by short nyctoperiods of eight hours. Measurements and 
numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. 
Botanical classification: Begonia.times.hiemalis `Abidan`. 
Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia. 
Parentage: Naturally-occurring mutation of Begonia.times.hiemalis `Azotus`. 
Propagation: 
Type.--Terminal cuttings. 
Time to rooting.--About 5 weeks with soil temperatures of 20 to 22.degree. 
C. 
Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous, well-branched, and spreading; plants do not 
form tubers. 
Plant description: 
Plant form.--Compact, upright and spreading potted plant; very freely 
branching with good stem and stem base strength. Flowers are fully double 
and abundant. Plants flower continuously. 
Growth habit.--Moderate growth rate, vigorous. Suitable for 9 to 15-cm 
containers. Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually 
10 to 12 weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cm potted plants 
from terminal cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes and 
flowering shoots are formed at upper nodes. 
Plant height.--About 23 cm. 
Leaves.--Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length: About 11.5 cm. Shape: 
Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex: Pointed. Base: Cordate. Margin: 
Doubly serrate. Texture: Smooth, leathery. Petiole length: About 6 cm. 
Color: Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Young and 
fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B/147C. Venation, upper and 
lower surfaces: 144D. Petiole: 144D. 
Flower description: 
Flowering habit.--Large and fully double flowers with numerous tepals 
arranged in axillary cymes. Usually three to five flowers per cyme. Many 
cymes in flower simultaneously. Flowering continuous. 
Natural flowering season.--Plants will flower year around regardless of 
nyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and more abundantly from 
mid-February until November in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Flowers.--Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (height): About 3 cm. 
Flower buds.--Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. 
Tepals.--Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Broadly cordate with rounded apex. 
Margin: Entire to slightly crenate. Quantity per flower: Usually about 35 
per flower. Size: Outer tepals: Length: About 2.5 to 3 cm. Width: About 
3.5 cm. Inner tepals: Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Texture: 
Smooth, satiny, glabrous. Color: When opening: 58B. Fully opened, upper 
surface: 58B/57B. Fully opened, lower surface: 57B. 
Peduncles.--Angle: Erect to bent. Length: About 6 to 8 cm. Texture: 
Glabrous. Color: 144D. 
Bracts.--Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Very broadly cordate. Margin: 
Serrate. Color: Green/dark reddish. 
Reproductive organs.--Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed. 
Postproduction longevity: 
Individual flowers.--Generally about 2 to 3 weeks. 
Whole plants.--About 6 weeks under interior conditions. 
Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Begonia has not been 
noted. 
Seed production: Seed production has not been observed as reproductive 
organs are not formed.