Patent Publication Number: US-PP28815-P3

Title: Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPE’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Dahlia hybrida.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMPE’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant, botanically known as  Dahlia hybrida  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMPE’. 
     The new  Dahlia  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy container  Dahlia  plants that have a freely basal branching habit, and large inflorescences with attractive ray floret coloration. 
     The new  Dahlia  plant originated from an open-pollination in March, 2010 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of  Dahlia hybrida  identified as code number 4001907, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of  Dahlia hybrida  as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Dahlia  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in October, 2010. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Dahlia  plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since January, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new  Dahlia  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Dahlia  have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMPE’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMPE’ as a new and distinct  Dahlia  plant:
         1. Broadly upright plant habit.   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.   3. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.   4. Large semi-double inflorescences with red purple-colored ray florets that are dark red towards the base.       

     Plants of the new  Dahlia  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Dahlia  have darker green-colored leaves than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Dahlia  and the female parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored ray florets.   3. Plants of the new  Dahlia  and the female parent selection differ in inflorescence form as plants of the female parent selection have decorative inflorescences.       

     Plants of the new  Dahlia  can be compared to plants of  Dahlia hybrida  ‘Dreamy Nights’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Dahlia  differ from plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Dahlia  have glossier leaves than plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’.   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new  Dahlia  have more ray florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Dahlia  plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new  Dahlia  plant. 
       The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMPE’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘BKDAMPE’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial  Dahlia  production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescence initiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod (long day) conditions. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Dahlia hybrida  ‘BKDAMPE’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Dahlia hybrida  identified as code number 4001907, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent .—Unknown selection of  Dahlia hybrida , not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—By terminal cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer .—About 16 days at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter .—About 19 days at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer .—About 21 days at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter .—About 23 days at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.     Root description .—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of the new  Dahlia.        Rooting habit .—Moderately freely branching; medium density.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Broadly upright and mounding plant form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; freely basal branching habit with about four primary branches developing per plant; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth habit; pinching is not required but will improve branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.     Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane .—About 17.4 cm.     Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane .—About 22.1 cm.     Plant diameter or spread .—About 31.9 cm.     Lateral branches .—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Aspect: Primary branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 30° from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, mostly glabrous with sparse pubescence at internodes; glossy. Color, developing: Close to 143A, slightly tinged with close to N200A; internodes, close to 143A. Color, developed: Close to 143A, moderately to strongly tinged with close to N200A; internodes, close to 143A.       
       Leaf &amp; leaflet description:
             Arrangement .—Leaves opposite and compound with three to five leaflets.     Length, leaves .—About 11 cm.     Length, terminal leaflets .—About 7.7 cm.     Width, leaves .—About 12.3 cm.     Width, terminal leaflets .—About 4.7 cm.     Shape, leaves in overall outline .—Broadly ovate.     Shape, leaflets .—Ovate to broadly ovate.     Apex, leaflets .—Acute to slightly apiculate.     Base, leaflets .—Short attenuate.     Margin, leaflets .—Coarsely serrate to dentate.     Venation pattern, leaflets .—Pinnate.     Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets .—Slightly rugose, glabrous; slightly velvety; glossy.     Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets .—Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.     Color .—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Darker than between NN137A and 147A; venation, close to 191A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146A to 146B.     Petioles .—Length: About 5.9 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Height: About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A tinged with close to N200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Appearance and arrangement .—Semi-double inflorescence form with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 36 inflorescences developing per plant.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Flowering response and flowering period .—Early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about 72 days after planting; plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter in The Netherlands.     Post - production longevity .—Inflorescences maintain good substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences persistent.     Inflorescence buds .—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 143A; towards the apex, tinged with close to 59B. Inflorescence size: Diameter: About 8.4 cm. Depth (height): About 5.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.5 cm. Receptacles: Height: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Flattened and curved. Color: Close to 145A. Ray florets: Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 60 arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 3.6 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly acute to shallowly retuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright to roughly horizontal and eventually downward; moderately concave. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N74A and towards the base, darker than 59A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N74A and towards the base, slightly darker than N79C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 67B and towards the base, darker than between 46A and 59A; venation, same as lamina, close to 67B and towards the base, darker than between 46A and 59A; colors do not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 67B to 67C and towards the base, close to 60B; venation, same as lamina, close to 67B to 67C and towards the base, close to 60B; colors do not change with development.     Disc florets .—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 45 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about five spiral whorls. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to between 187A and 203A. Mid-section: Close to between 46A and 185A. Base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to between 187A and 203A. Mid-section: Close to between 46A and 185A. Base: Close to 145C to 145D.     Phyllaries .—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About six arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to NN137A.     Peduncles .—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.4 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143B; proximally, tinged with close to between 147A and 203A.     Reproductive organs .—Androecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 5 mm. Anther color: Close to 17B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 24A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 150C. Stigma diameter: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 17A to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Dahlia.          
       Disease &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Dahlia  have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Dahlia  plants.   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new  Dahlia  have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.