Variety of Canna plant named ‘LON01’

A new and distinct cultivar of Canna plant named ‘LON01’ characterized by browned burgundy leaves tending to olive green as the leaf ages.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofCanna, botanically known asCanna hybridaand further known by the varietal name ‘LON01’ and the trade name ‘Tropicanna Black.’ The new variety was discovered through a selective breeding program by Greg Goff at Av. Union 274-A, Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico 44100. The seedlings were selected on Aug. 21, 2001, and the new variety is a product of open pollination. The pollination took place in a group ofcannasand ‘LON01’ was the resultant seedling discovered in this population, where the seedling was collected from the group ofCannasincluding ‘Yellow King Humbert’ (unpatented), ‘North Star Landscape Red’ (unpatented), ‘Crimson Beauty’ (unpatented), ‘Rose Futurity’ (unpatented), ‘President’ (unpatented), and ‘Angel Pink Beauty’ (unpatented). The new cultivar was selected from the progeny by the inventor Greg Goff at Av. Union 274-A, Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico 44100.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety is the result of a selective breeding program taken from the breeder's collection of unique and interesting seedlings in the Nursery at Av. Union 274-A, Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico 44100 in the year 2001. These seedlings were selected and propagated through rhizome divisions selecting for differences in color variation of the interveinal striping.

The new cultivar has since been asexually reproduced by rhizome divisions at Silvan, Victoria, Australia and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced. Continued observations from the vegetative divisions have confirmed that the distinguishing features of this new cultivar came true, remain stable and are retained through successive propagation.

A comparative trial of the new cultivar with its closest known variety ‘Phasion’, trade name “Tropicana” was conducted at Clyde, VIC, Australia in February 2006, in a garden environment. The results of the comparative trial is provided below:

DETAINED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the new cultivar at approximately six months. The data which defines each characteristic was collected from the comparative trial identified above, using R.H.S. color cards issued in 1995.

THE PLANT

Classification:Botanical.—Canna hybrida.Commercial.—‘LON01’.Origin.—Selected seedling.Propagation.—Rhizome division.Form:Type.—Dense, upright mass of stems topped by flowering panicles, slowly expanding in width by rhizomes beneath the soil surface.Height.—Up to 1500 mm.Width.—Up to 500 mm.Growth rate and habit.—Flowers in first season from Summer to well into Autumn. Flower truss lasts approximately two weeks, each individual floret lasting two to three days.Strength.—Free standing.Stem:Length.—180–200 cm.Diameter.—28 mm at base.Color.—RHS N186C.Leaves:Arranged.—Spirally.Shape.—Lamina is large, broad, ovate and elliptic, with prominent venation with deep veins and long midrib.Apex.—Acute.Base descriptors.—Sheathed.Length.—Mean 560 mm.Width.—Mean 233 mm.Margin.—Entire.Texture.—Thick, smooth but with prominent rib structure, and somewhat waxy feel.Color:Upper.—The predominant leaf color is RHS 220A with a burgundy hue (on juvenile leaf); As leaf matures, it becomes more green, RHS 147A (closest available).Lower.—The predominant leaf color is RHS 220A with a burgundy hue (on juvenile leaf); As leaf matures, it becomes more green, RHS 147A (closest available).Venation.—Pinnate.

MATURE INFLORESCENCE

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The varietal is characterized by large, broad leaves having undulations of margin that are strong in juvenile becoming weak with age. Reflexion of margin is absent, and venation is deeply indented. The predominant color is browned burgundy (RHS 187A), lateral venations are raised. The aspect is upright, as the leaves unfurl as they grow from the stalk. As the leaf ages, the browned burgundy tends to olive green (147A), with the color consistent on the lower and upper sides. For each growth spike, one to three umbels are present flowering first at the apex, second below first peduncle, and third from a lower leaf axil. The varietal flowers in the first season from Summer to well into Autumn, where each flower lasts approximately two weeks and each floret lasts 2–3 days.