Abstract:
A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens named Balfiepuna, characterized by its fully double purple flowers, upright and mounded habit, excellent basal branching and dark green leaves.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention comprises a new and distinct Double Impatiens plant, botanically known as  Impatiens wallerana,  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Balfiepuna.  
           [0002]    The new cultivar was developed by the inventor through a controlled breeding program in Elbum, Ill. The objective of the breeding program was the creation of impatiens cultivars which exhibit large, fully double flowers, are free-flowering and have a vigorous self-branching habit.  
           [0003]    The female (seed) parent of Balfiepuna was the proprietary  Impatiens wallerana  cultivar designated 573-1-3-1 which exhibits a medium to vigorous habit and single, slightly cupped coral-rose flowers. The male (pollen) parent of Balfiepuna was the proprietary  Impatiens wallerana  cultivar designated 3020-3-1-1 which exhibits a vigorous loose habit, and large semi-double violet flowers.  
           [0004]    Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by two or three vegetative node stem cuttings has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:  
           [0006]    (a) exhibits attractive double purple flowers,  
           [0007]    (b) forms dark green foliage,  
           [0008]    (c) exhibits a good basal branching character and  
           [0009]    (d) exhibits a upright mounded growth habit.  
           [0010]    The new cultivar of the present invention can be compared to Rosebud Purple Magic. In side by side comparisons it is found that the new cultivar is slightly more compact, has longer peduncles, longer leaves and darker flower color as detailed in TABLE A. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH  
       [0011]    The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    The Balfiepuna cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.  
         [0013]    The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determined on Aug. 30, 2000 between 3:00 and 3:45 p.m. under natural daylight conditions. The plants were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double poly carbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice while utilizing a soilless growth medium and maintaining temperatures of approximately 72° F. during the day and approximately 65° F. during the night.  
         [0014]    Classification: x  
         [0015]    [0015] Botanical.—Impatiens wallerana  cultivar Balfiepuna.  
         [0016]    [0016] Commercial.— Double Impatiens.  
         [0017]    Parentage: Proprietary seedling 573-1-3-1 (seed).x. proprietary seedling 3020-3-1-1 (pollen)  
         [0018]    Propagation:  
         [0019]    [0019] Type cutting.— Two or three vegetative node stem cutting from near the center of plant.  
         [0020]    [0020] Time to initiate roots.— Approximately 7-14 days with the shorter times generally being experienced in the summer and the longer times in the winter.  
         [0021]    [0021] Time to form roots.— Approximately 21 days.  
         [0022]    [0022] Root Description.— Fibrous, branching.  
         [0023]    Plant Description:  
         [0024]    [0024] Form.— Upright and mounded.  
         [0025]    [0025] Habit of growth.— Compact with good basal branching. A mature plant, at 8 weeks after planting of rooted cutting, commonly measures approximately 16.9 cm in height and approximately 31 cm in width.  
         [0026]    [0026] Branching habit.— Basal branching.  
         [0027]    [0027] Foliage.— Shape: Ovate with acute apex, attenuate base and serrate, ciliate margin. Size: Fully expanded leaves are approximately 5.1 cm in length and approximately 3.1 cm in width. Color of fully expanded leaves: Upper surface slightly darker than 137A, lower surface 138B with blotches of 184A. Petiole length is 1.4 cm.  
         [0028]    [0028] Stem.— Color: 147C with overlay of 184A. Internode length is approximately 2.3 cm,  
         [0029]    Flower Description:  
         [0030]    [0030] Flowering habit.— Freely flowering.  
         [0031]    [0031] Natural flowering season.— Year round in greenhouse environment and spring until fall in the garden.  
         [0032]    [0032] Flowers borne.— Above foliage arising from leaf axils.  
         [0033]    [0033] Quantity of flowers.— Approximately 2 flowers and 2 buds per stem.  
         [0034]    [0034] Flower diameter.— Approximately 3.5 cm.  
         [0035]    [0035] Petals.— Shape: Round to ovate, emarginate tip, slightly cupped. Number: 21 per flower.  
         [0036]    [0036] Flower color.— Fully opened flowers: Upper surface between 71B and 80A, lower surface 71B at edge and 70B in center. Very tiny area of 155D at attachment point.  
         [0037]    [0037] Spur.— Size: Approximately 3 cm in length, 154D with overlay of 184A and dark purple tip.  
         [0038]    [0038] Peduncle length.— Approximately 1.7 cm.  
         [0039]    [0039] Reproductive organs.— There tend to be no remaining reproductive organs. Occasional naked ovaries and occasional sterile, faciated stamen-like structures.