Impatiens plant named Tanna

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens named Tanna, particularly characterized by its compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics, large, orange-red flowers, early flowering and very floriferous habits, dark green foliage, and suitability to 4 inch and 6 inch pots, and 8 inch hanging basket cultures.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of plant known 
as impatiens and commercially known as New Guinea impatiens. The new 
cultivar is known by the cultivar name Tanna, and was developed by the 
inventor Ludwig Kientzler in Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany by 
crossing the cultivar designated JF 333 (seed parent) with the cultivar RI 
279 (pollen parent). 
Asexual reproduction by terminal (stem tip) cuttings taken by me or under 
my supervision at Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany, has shown that 
the unique features of this new impatiens are stabilized and are 
reproduced true to type in successive propagations. 
The following characteristics distinguish the new impatiens from both its 
parent varieties and other cultivars of this general type known and used 
in the floriculture industry: 
1. Compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics. Plants in 
16.5 cm pots were 20 cm tall and 38 cm wide, eight weeks after first 
flowering. 
2. Large, orange-red flowers. Open flowers measure up to 5.5 cm in 
diameter. 
3. Early flowering and very floriferous. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were in 
flower 6 weeks after planting. 
4. Dark green foliage. 
5. Well suited both to 4" and 6" pot, and 8" hanging basket cultures. 
Tanna is similar in many respects to Barbados, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. 
No. 8,467. The flower color of Tanna is an orange-red, similar in color to 
Barbados. The leaf color of Tanna is much darker than Barbados. Tanna has 
a more compact growth habit, darker leaves and blooms earlier than 
Barbados. Reference is made to chart A at the end of the specification 
which compares certain characteristics of Tanna with the same 
characteristics of Barbados.

The following is a detailed description of my new impatiens cultivar based 
on plants grown under commercial practice in Encinitas, Calif. Plants were 
started as rooted cuttings and were transplanted in mid-November into 16.5 
cm (6.5 inch) pots, one pot per plant. By mid-January, plants were growing 
vigorously and were in flower. The values, measurements and observations 
noted below were taken from plants in full bloom in mid-February. 
Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 
(RHS), except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are 
used. 
Parentage: Cross between JF 333 (seed) and RI 279 (pollen). 
Asexual reproduction: 
A. Cutting type.--Tip, with stems 2-3 cm long and developing to 4-5 cm 
after 21 days in propagation. 
B. Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 23.degree. C.; nicely developed 
root mass in 18-21 days. 
C. Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous, adventitious roots from the stem. 
Plant description: 
A. Form.--Symmetrical, bush shaped, flowering herb, with self-branching 
characteristics giving the plant a full appearance. Pinching is not 
recommended since it does not enhance branching and only delays flowering 
by removing flower buds. 
B. Habit of growth.--Vigorous, self-branching habit, producing whorls of 
leaves and flowers. Growth is indeterminate and flowering is continuous. 
C. Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves on stems in whorls 
of 4. Higher on stem, leaves in whorls of predominately 8. 1. Leaf shape: 
Broadly elliptic to ovate. Leaf blade tips are acuminate; bases of 
immature leaves are acute, mature leaves, attenuate. 2. Leaf blade size: 
Mature leaves 11-12 cm long and 4.5 cm wide. 3. Petiole length: 2-2.5 cm. 
4. Leaf Margin: Ciliated and finely serrated. 5. Leaf texture: Slightly 
rugose. a. Upper surface: Glabrous. b. Under surface: Glabrous. 6. Leaf 
color: Dark green with a red petiole. a. Upper surface: Darker than 147A. 
b. Under surface: Greyed purple, near 183A. 7. Venation: Pinnate. 
Flowering description: 
A. Flowering habits.--Very floriferous. Flowering is continuous. Flowers 
develop progressively around the whorl of leaves, taking 5-7 days from 
buds which show color, to bloom. Flowers are single and large, lasting for 
2-3 weeks. 
B. Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occurs 
throughout the year. Quantity of flowers increases with increasing light 
intensity and duration. However, floriferousness may wane during hot 
summer days in temperate climates. 
C. Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal and covered with 3 sepals plus rudimentary 
sepals fused into the under surface of the superior petal. A spur 
originates from the base of the inferior sepal. Spur is red and 5 cm long. 
D. Flowers borne.--Singly, on dark red pedicels 4-4.5 cm long. 
E. Quantity of flowers.--One flower per leaf. Flowers occur progressively 
around the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to mature flowers are 
visible at the same time. 
F. Petals.--Petals open nearly perpendicular to the pedicel so that the 
plane of the flower surface is nearly flat. 1. Number of petals: Five (5) 
petals, all overlapping. 2. Shape: All petals are heart-shaped. Superior 
petal has a broad base. Other petals have a pointed base. 3. Color: Bright 
orange with a pinkish eye. a. Upper surface: Orange, between 33A and 33B. 
Base of petals purplish red, near 64A. Pink eye near 65A. b. Under 
surface: Near 35A. 4. Flower size: Up to 5.5 cm in diameter. 
G. Reproductive organs.--Flowers are monoecious. 1. Stamens: Five (5), 
broad and fused to form a tube around the ovary; red in color. 2. Anther: 
Hooded and cream colored. 3. Pollen: Cream colored. 4. Stigma: Five 
pointed star, colorless. 5. Styles: Very short. 6. Ovary: 5-celled, 4-5 mm 
long until fertilized. Grows to 1 cm or longer after fertilization; green. 
Resistance to disease: Good resistance to common stem and root diseases, 
Rhizoctonia and Pythium. Botrytis may be a problem in humid or mist 
propagation environments, but no greater than with other New Guinea 
impatiens cultivars. 
CHART A 
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Tanna Barbados 
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Flower Color RHS 33 A-B RHS 33 A-B 
Plant Height 20 cm 25 cm 
(above the pot) 
Plant Width 38 cm 43 cm 
Weeks to flower 
6 wks 7 wks 
Flower Diameter 
5.5 cm 5.5 cm 
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