Abstract:
New and distinguishable strains of Gerbera jamesonii characterized by the presence in flowers thereof of full incurring of both ray and outer disc florets.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/181,355 filed Jan. 13, 1994, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/579,165, filed Sep. 6, 1990, both now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the development of new strains of Gerbera known as Bauerii Bundabergia. The new strains grow on strong straight stems and set multiple large incurving rows of brightly colored florets. Additionally, the mentioned characteristics are stable through regeneration of the plants. 
     The Gerbera species is a native of Africa and a dose relative of the daisy family. The original Botanical classification was done by Jameson who named several colored varieties Gerbera jamesonii. The common names are: Daisy or Barberton daisy or Transvaal daisy. 
     The native Gerberas are small standing weakly stemmed plants bearing 7.5 cm diameter flowers of cream, deep pink, yellows and oranges with only a single row of ray florets. The color traits of the native flowers are highly variable and unstable through regeneration. 
     The inventors of the present invention started a concentrated effort of twenty years duration to improve the appearance and utility of the original native Gerbera jamesonii (Barberton daisy). Using similar techniques to those described herein a variety known as Nobleflora and sub varieties were developed. These varieties, unlike the native Gerberas, grow large multi floretted flowers with flat or slightly reflexing petals. The flower is supported on a fasciated stem of five to fifteen millimeters in diameter. Wide variations in color have been developed as sub varieties. The sub varieties have been exported to many countries and are available as both seed and cell culture from commercial nurseries. 
     The new strains with the desired characteristics were obtained by a systematic breeding program. Using two commercially available varieties: Gerbera jamesonii Var Nobleflora subvar Royal Lady as the mother plant and Gerbera jamesonii Var Nobleflora subvar Venture as the male donor, a recurrent selective breeding program, over ten years duration, was established. The outcome of which are the new strains of Gerbera hereinafter sometimes referred to as Bauerin Bundabergia, having the same combination of morphological traits described herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided new and distinguishable strains of Gerbera plants characterized by the following morphological traits; conspicuously saccate nature of the leaf blade; bilobed (in transection) petuncle which is 2-3 times as wide as that in the native Gerbera species; proliferation of rows of involucral bracts to at least 8 from 5 in the native Gerbera species; in the proliferation of ray florets from one in the native Gerbera species to many in the new strains; in the cohesion of the teeth at the tip of outer lips of the ray florets and also in the disc florets causing the tips to be hooded and curled inwards and in the case of the disc florets causing the tips of the inner lips to be held in the hooded tip of the outer lips. 
     The new strains can be reproduced by seed, division of stools, and by cloning via tissue culture (micropropagation). Asexual and sexual reproduction of the new strains has shown that the herein described and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 One of the parent strains Gerbera jamesonii Var Nobleflora subvar Royal Lady; 
     FIG. 2 First stage progeny used as stock for second stage pollen donors in a back cross to Gerbera jamesonii var Nobleflora subvar Royal Lady; 
     FIG. 3 Second stage progeny used as stock for third stage breeding program; 
     FIG. 4 Third stage progeny used as stock for the fourth stage breeding program; 
     FIG. 5 Fourth stage progeny illustrative of the invention and used as a stock for the fifth stage of the breeding program producing other varieties in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In one particularly preferred embodiment there is provided a new cultivar which is described in the following botanical description: 
     Acaulescent herbs. Leaves basal, alternate, petiolate, elliptic or oblanceolate in outline, irregularly and deeply lobed especially at the base, sparsely pilose on both surfaces, conspicuously saccate between the main veins; 
     Peduncles densely pilose, approximately 10 mm in diameter at its widest point, bilaterally symmetrical in transection with two partly fused channels running length of the peduncle tissue, the channels hollow or partly filled with soft tissue; 
     Heads approximately 10 cm in diameter, the involucre approximately 4 cm in diameter, with densely pilose involucral bracts in 6-8 rows; 
     Ray florets female, fertile, in many rows, either all similar or with the inner ray florets much smaller and similar in size and color to the disc florets, staminodes present corollar bilabiate: 
     in outer ray florets the outer lip 3.0-4.5 cm long, 4-5 times longer than the tube, with 3 teeth usually cohering into a hooded tip, the inner lip 1/2 to 1/3 that length, of two filiform coiled lobes; in inner ray florets (where present) the outer lip about 5 mm long, twice as long as the tube with 3 teeth usually cohering into a hooded tip, the inner tip, the inner lip of two filiformcoilcd lobes as long as the outer lip; 
     Disc florets bisexual, fertile, in many rows; corolla about 10 mm long, bilabiate or unilabiate, the lips equal in length; outer lip oblong with 3-6 teeth often cohering into a hooded tip; inner lip of 2-3 linear lobes enclosed at the tip by the hooded outer lip or reflexed, or absent. Anthers linear, tailed, with a lanceolate appendage; 
     Ovary of all florets oblong, fibbed, glandularpilose, slightly beaked; pappus of many bristles 6-8 mm long, united in a ring at the base or fused in bundles. 
     In yet further embodiments there are provided numerous color variations however all plants share the same distinguishing morphological traits as described above. 
     The following colors are given in color values and terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart 1966, Royal Horticultural Society, London and were recorded from corollas of florets from eight heads of the plant: 
     
         ______________________________________Top surface:      Red 46B striped with 46A &amp; 53AUnder surface:      Red 47A &amp; 47BTop:       Red 53A &amp; 47A tipped with Yellow 11C &amp; 11DUnder:     Yellow 11C &amp; 11DTop:       Red 49A striped with 49DUnder:     Red 49DTop:       Red 51A stripped with 52BUnder:     Red 36D with Yellow 12D at baseTop:       Red 53AUnder:     Red 54ATop:       Orange-red 34A striped with Yellow 8AUnder:     Yellow 8A striped with Orange-red 34ATop:       Orange-red 30C striped with Orange 25AUnder:     Orange 25CTop:       Orange-red 33C &amp; 32CUnder:     Yellow-orange 17D______________________________________ 
    
     These strains differ from the parent species in the following ways: 
     In the conspicuously saccate nature of the leaf blade; 
     In the bilobed (in transection) peduncle which is 2 to 3 times as wide as that in the species; 
     In the proliferation of rows of involucral bracts to 8 from 5 in the species; 
     In the proliferation of my florets to many rows from one row in the species; 
     In the cohesion of the teeth at the tip of outer lips of the ray florets and often also in the disc florets, causing the tips to be hooded and curled inwards, and in the case of the disc florets causing the tips of the inner lips to be held inn the hooded tip of the outer lips; 
     In the complex coloring of the florets as described above. 
     Details of the Breeding Methodology with Reference to the Drawings 
     STAGE (i) 
     Pollen from Gerbera jamesonii var Nobleflora subvar Venture was used to pollinate Gerbera jamesonii Var Noble flora subvar Royal Lady (FIG, 1), The progeny, which showed any incurring of both ray and outer disc florets, were saved for the next stage. 
     STAGE (ii) 
     The progeny of Stage (i), i.e., those showing incurring (FIG. 2), were used as male donors in a back cross to Royal Lady. The progeny which possessed enhanced incurring of ray mad outer disc florets and further showed development of intermediate and central disc florets were saved for the next stage. 
     STAGE (iii) 
     The progeny of Stage (ii), i.e., the progeny showing enhanced incurring and development of inner florets (FIG. 3), were self pollinated. Plants which had full incurring of ray and outer disc florets as well as fully developed intermediate and central florets were selected for the next stage of breeding. 
     STAGE (iv) 
     Those plants from Stage (iii) which showed the highest incurring and development of florets (approximately 10%) (FIG. 4) were allowed to interpollinate. The resulting progeny showed fully developed florets and full incurring characteristics (approximately 96% of progeny) (FIG. 5). A wide range of colors was also obtained. 
     STAGE (v) 
     Individual clones from Stage (iv) with the desired characteristics were self pollinated for four generations to check the stability of color and characteristics. No instability was observed. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new strains of Gerbera was achieved by well known horticultural methods. 
     These strains of Gerbera are most easily characterized by their large incurving flower heads growing on wide fasciated stems. 
     It is apparent from the foregoing that modifications and variations are possible within the spirit of the invention, Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.