African Violet named Swan Lake

A new and distinct African Violet cultivar characterized by its intermittent blooming habit and its profuse production of blossoms when flowering, and by its large, star-shaped, flowers which are borne in a cluster above the foliage on strong, upright stems, the flowers being particularly graced by their gently ruffled petals.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
My new African Violet cultivar originated as a seedling of unknown 
parentage growing among a field of African Violet plants maintained in 
greenhouse at Fallbrook, Calif., for breeding purposes. This new plant was 
discovered by me in 1977 and was selected for propagation because of its 
vigorous growth and beautifully colored, star-shaped blooms of large size. 
This new plant was reproduced by cuttings at Fallbrook and subsequently 
propagated through several successive generations, which demonstrated that 
its novel characteristics would hold true from generation to generation 
and appeared to be firmly fixed. This new African Violet plant is now 
being propagated on a commerical scale, by means of cuttings, at West 
Chicago, Ill., and at Parrish, Fla.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT 
The following is a detailed description of the new plant based upon 
observations made in greenhouse 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. 
THE PLANT 
Origin: Seedling. 
Parentage: Unknown. 
Classification: 
Botanic.--Saintpaulia ionantha. 
Commercial.--African Violet potted plant. 
Form: Compact and of rosette shape. 
Growth: Vigorous and strong. 
Growth rate: Rapid. 
Foliage: 
Number of leaves.--About 13. 
Size of leaf.--Length -- From insignificant to about 100 mm. Width -- From 
insignificant to about 90 mm. 
Shape.--Ovate with obtuse tip, cordate base, and repand margin. 
Texture.--Pubescent. 
Aspect.--Glossy. 
Color.--Upper side -- 137A. Under side -- 138D. 
Ribs and veins.--Pinnate and very prominent on under side of leaf. 
Leaflets.--None. 
Petioles.--Length -- About 22 to 82 mm. 
THE BUD 
Form: Vase-shaped. 
Size: Average with various lengths and diameters at time of opening. 
Opening rate: Typical violet. 
Color of petals: 
When sepals first divide and petals begin to unfurl.--77C. 
Sepals: 
Number.--Five. 
Shape.--Lanceolate and branched, becoming flat when flowers open. 
Color.--Inside -- 148B. Outside -- 199B. 
Striae.--None. 
Calyx: 
Size.--Small. 
Shape.--Calyx splits to star shape. 
Aspect.--Hairy. 
Peduncle: 
Length.--From insignificant to about 84 mm. 
Aspect.--Hairy. 
Strength.--Erect and rigid. 
Color.--199C. 
THE FLOWER 
Blooming habit: Intermittent. 
Flowering: Profusely. 
Flower size: Large. 
Diameter.--About 35 to 45 mm. 
Borne.--As a cyme. 
Shape.--When bloom first opens, cup-shaped; becoming flat when bloom 
matures. 
Petalage: 
Number of petals.--Five. 
Arrangement.--Sympetalous. 
Form.--Rotate and actinomorphic with repand and gently ruffled margins. 
Texture.--Soft. 
Appearance.--Satiny. 
Color.--Top side -- 77B. 
Petaloids: None. 
Flower stem: 
Length.--From insignificant to about 84 mm. 
Character.--Strong and upright. 
Color.--199C. 
Discoloration: After full bloom, the color fades to 77C. 
Persistence: The flowers hang on and dry. 
Fragrance: None. 
Lasting quality: 
On the plant.--10 to 20 days when fully opened. 
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
Stamens: 
Anthers.--Number: Two. Arrangement: Monadelphous. Size: About 3 mm. square. 
Color: Yellow. 
Filaments.--Length: About 4 mm. Color: Whitish yellow. 
Pollen.--Color -- Yellow. 
Pistils: 
Number.--One. 
Styles.--Length: About 6 mm. Color: 77C. 
Stigma.--Color -- Whitish. 
Ovaries: Hypogynous and tomentose. 
This new variety of African Violet plant is particularly distinguished by 
its profusion of blooms borne on stems of various lengths in a bouquet 
above the medium green foliage of the rosette shaped plant, the 
actinomorphic, deep pink flowers being star-shaped, of medium size and 
having excellent keeping quality.