Chrysanthemum named Constitution

A new variety of chrysanthemum plant for cut flower production characterized by the large size of its clear yellow flowers which are borne singly on long peduncles carried as a spray on tall strong canes. This plant has a tall, upright growth habit with strong, erect stems, and a good tolerance to high soluble salt conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
My new chrysanthemum plant originated as a seedling of unidentified 
parentage and was discovered by me in 1972 among plants growing in my 
greenhouse at Westfield-Woking, Surrey, England, and maintained as 
breeding stock for my breeding efforts seeking new and improved 
chrysanthemum varieties for the commercial market. This new plant caught 
my attention because of its height and the relatively long stems which 
carried large, lovely, yellow blooms of a kind suitable for use as cut 
flowers. 
Asexual propagation of this new plant by cuttings from the original plant, 
and further asexual propagation of this variety through successive 
generations, carried on by me at Westfield-Woking, Surrey, England, has 
demonstrated conclusively that the distinctive characteristics of the 
original plant are faithfully carried from generation to generation and 
are firmly fixed. Commercial scale propagation of this new variety of 
chrysanthemum is now being done at West Chicago, Ill., and at Cortez, 
Fla., with full retention of the distinctive qualities of my original 
discovery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT 
The following is a detailed description of my new chrysanthemum plant based 
upon observations of greenhouse grown plants made in 1976 at West Chicago, 
Ill., the color designations being according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart 
published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England, with the 
collaboration of The British Colour Council. 
THE PLANT 
Origin: Seedling. 
Parentage: Both seed parent and pollen parent are unidentified 
chrysanthemum varieties. 
Classification: 
Botanic.--Chrysanthemum morifolium. 
Commercial.--Greenhouse pot plant. 
Form: Tall herbaceous bush. 
Height: 2 to 4 feet. 
Growth: Vigorous and upright, sturdy and with very good strength. 
Branching: Normal. 
Foliage: Abundant with 3 to 5 leaves per 6 inches of stem. 
Leaf Size.--33/4 to 51/2 inches long and 2 to 35/8 inches wide. 
Leaf Shape.--Lobed-lanceolate with slightly serrated margins. 
Surface Aspect.--Candescent. 
Color.--Upper side -- RHS 147A. Under side -- RHS 147B. 
venation.--Pinnately veined. 
Petioles.--5/8 to 11/4 inches long. 
THE BUD 
Form: Globular. 
Size: 
Diameter.--3/8 to 9/16 inch. 
Depth.--1/4 to 3/8 inch. 
Opening rate: Slow. 
Color: 
When phyllaries first divide.--RHS 144A, 145A, 154A depending upon 
flowering season. 
When florets begin to unfurl.--RHS 7A. 
Phyllaries: The outside of the receptacle bears many involucral 
spear-shaped and upstanding bracts. 
Color: 
Inside.--RHS 137A. 
outside.--RHS 137B. 
Surface aspect: Pubescent. 
Peduncle: Erect and 21/4 to 6 inches long. 
Surface aspect: Pubescent. 
THE FLOWER 
Response: 9-week. 
Recommended flowering: The year around. 
Natural flowering season: October 25 to November 2. 
Blooms: Flower type -- Composite and decorative. 
Borne.--A head of many florets borne on a receptacle. 
Size.--Large. Diameter -- 23/4 to 33/8 inches. Depth -- 7/8 to 13/8 inches. 
Shape.--Flat when bloom first opens, the outer petals reflexing slightly as 
bloom matures. 
Florets.--Numerous in number. 
Form.--Linear with obtuse apex. 
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Color: 
(RHS) Flower Season: 
Jan. Apr. May June Aug. Oct. 
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Outer Florets: 
Upper side -- 9A 9B 6A 5A 6B 6A,B 
7B,C 
Reverse side -- 
7B 7C 6C 5C 6C 6C, 7D 
8B 
Inside Florets: 
Upper side -- 9A 9B 6A 5A 12A 9A,B 
Reverse side -- 
7A 9B 12A 9B 12B 7B,C 
Tonality at a distance of 6 feet -- 6A 
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appearance.--Very slightly shiny. 
Discoloration.--Very slight fade after full bloom. 
Peduncle: Sturdy and upright. 
Length.--21/4 to 6 inches. 
Color.--RHS 147B. 
Persistence: Florets hang on and dry. 
Lasting quality: 
On the plant.--3 weeks. 
As a cut flower.--7 to 16 days. 
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
Stamens: 
Arrangement.--5 syngenesious stamens. 
Filaments.--Length -- 1-1/16 to 11/8 inch. 
Color.--Light yellow. 
Pollen.--Yellow. 
Pistils: 
Number.--One to each ray and disc floret. 
Styles.--1/8 to 3/16 inch long. 
Stigmas.--Color -- Yellow. 
Ovaries: Inferior bicarpellate. 
This new chrysanthemum cultivar is particularly distinguished by the large 
size and decorative flower form of its blooms, its tall plant height and 
vigorous upright growth habit, the long lasting quality of its blooms, on 
the plant and as cut flowers, and its tolerance to high soluble salt 
conditions. 
This variety has flowers with a clear yellow color in the ray florets when 
flowered under warm temperatures and with some bronze streaking which 
causes a deepening or darkening of the blossom colors when flowered under 
cool temperatures. The plant has a 9-week response in summertime and a 
10-week wintertime response.