Patent Publication Number: US-PP17723-P2

Title: Diascia plant named ‘Diastusca’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:  Diascia barberae.    
   Varietal denomination: ‘Diastusca’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
   The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of  Diascia,  botanically known as  Diascia barberae.    
   The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination and is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘D0132-1’ and ‘D0065-1’. ‘D 132-1’ is a coral flowering  Diascia.  ‘D0132-1’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘D0065-1’ is a coral flowering  Diascia.  ‘D0065-1’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘D0132-1’ nor ‘D0065-1’ has been patented. 
   As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2002 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. 
   This new  Diascia  plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     This new  Diascia  plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR 
   The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new  Diascia.  The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 10 week old plants, cultured in 10.5 cm containers, and blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. 
   Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London. 
   
     
       
         
             
          
             
                 
             
             
               Differences between the new cultivar ‘Diastusca,’ 
             
             
               its parents and a similar cultivar 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
                 
                 
               ‘Sun Chimes 
             
             
                 
               ‘Diastusca’ 
               ‘D0132-1’ 
               ‘D0065-1’ 
               Terracotta’ 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
               Flower color 
               Greyed orange 
               Coral 
               Coral 
               Deep coral 
             
             
               Plant habit 
               Compact 
               Compact 
               Vigorous, 
               Vigorous, 
             
             
                 
                 
                 
               not 
               not 
             
             
                 
                 
                 
               compact 
               compact 
             
             
               Flower size 
               18-26 
               24-32 
               14-20 
               25-32 
             
             
                 
               mm 
               mm 
               mm 
               mm 
             
             
                 
             
             
               ‘Sun Chimes Terracotta’ is not known to be patented.  
             
          
         
       
     
       
       The plant:
             Classification. —Botanical:  Diascia barberae.        Parentage. —Female parent: A seedling named ‘D0132-1’ is one of our seedlings from our D-generation of plants bred in 1998. Pollen parent: A seedling named ‘D0065-1’ is one of our seedlings from our D-generation of plants bred in 1998.     Growth habit. —Upright.     Plant height. —14-22 cm.     Speading area of plant. —20-35 cm.     Growth rate. —Vigorous.     Strength. —Very good.     Branching character. —Freely branching and lateral branching at every node.     Quantity of branches. —40-60 branches per plant.       
     
       The stem:
             Diameter. —1-2 mm.     Shape. —Round.     Color. —141C.     Length. —14-20 cm.     Anthocyan pigmentation.   —Absent.        Length of internode. —Vegetative growth: 7-12 mm. Generative growth: 9-15 mm.     Pubescence. —Not pubescent.       
     
       The foliage:
             Phyllotaxis. —Opposite, decussate.     Number of leaves per lateral stem. —16-40.     Shape of blade. —Cordate.     Texture. —Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth.     Attachment to leaf. —Petiolate.     Venation. —Pinnate.     Color of veins. —Upper side: 137D. Lower side: 137C.     Leaf margin. —Crenate.     Leaf base. —Cordate.     Leaf apex. —Rounded.     Length. —16-23 mm.     Width. —14-18 mm.     Depth of incision. —Less than 1 mm.     Color. —Upper side: 137A. Lower side: 137C.     Pubescence. —No pubescence.     Length of petiole. —2-3 mm.     Diameter of petiole. —1-2 mm.     Color of petiole. —182C.     Petiole surface texture. —Smooth.       
     
       The bud:
             Peduncle length. —6-12 mm, depending on season.     Peduncle diameter. —1-2 mm.     Peduncle shape. —Long and threadlike.     Peduncle color. —182B.     Size of the bud. —Length: 2 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.     Shape of the bud. —Oval.     Color of the bud. —181C.     Number of buds per lateral branch. —18-40.     Sepals. —Color both surfaces: 182B. Number: 5, parted. Length: 1-2 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Shape: Elliptic, apex acute, base truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth.     Bracts.— Color upper side: 181D. Color lower side: 181D. Arrangement: Sessile. Number: One underneath every pedicel. Length: 1-3 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Apex: Acute. Base: Subcordate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth.     Pedicels. —Color: 182A. Shape: Threadlike. Length: 3-5 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.       
     
       The flower:
             Inflorescence length. —3-6 cm.     Inflorescence diameter. —2-5 cm.     Flower width. —16-20 mm.     Flower length. —18-26 mm.     Flower depth. —6-9 mm.     Flower aspect. —Tipped upward and outward.     Borne. —Solitary.     Form. —Zygomorphic, five lobed, double nectar spur.     Cluster. —Raceme.     Color. —Upper surface: 41A. On the two upper banner petals there is a small yellow (color 9B) indentation just above the reproductive organs. Lower surface: 41B. On the two upper banner petals there is a small light yellow (color 9D) indentation at the base.     Overlapping of the petals. —Separate.     Number of petals. —Five: two upper banner petals, two lateral petals and one larger basal lip petal.     Shape of the banner petals. —Apex rounded, base fused.     Shape of the lateral petals. —Apex rounded, base fused, lower surface modified into nectar spurs.     Shape of the basal lip petal.   —Apex truncate, base fused.        Petal margin of all petals. —Entire.     Petal surface texture. —Smooth.     Size of the banner petals. —Length: 5-7 mm. Width: 6-8 mm.     Size of the lateral petals. —Length: 5-7 mm. Width: 5-7 mm.     Size of the basal lip petal.— Length: 13-15 mm. Width: 12-14 mm.     Spur. —Length: 7-8 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm at petal attachment. Color: 41B.     Number of flowers per raceme. —15-20.     Fragrance. —No fragrance.     Lastingness of the bloom. —New florets continue to open in one raceme over a period of 12 days.     Lastingness of one flower. —About 4 days depending on temperature.     Flowering season. —Depending on climate from March until November.       
     
       The reproductive organs:
             Androecium. —Stamen number: Three. Anther shape: Two-lobed. Anther size: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Yellow 7A. Amount of pollen: Very much pollen. Pollen color: Yellow 7C.     Gynoecium. —Pistil number: 1. Stigma shape: Rounded. Pistil length: 3-4 mm. Style color: Green 141C. Stigma color: Green white 157A. Ovary color: Green 141D.       
     
       The fruit and the seed:
             Seed set.— No fruit development nor seed set has been observed to date.       
     
       The roots:
             Type of roots. —Fibrous.     Rooting habit. —Fine and freely branching.     Color. —Whitish, N155A.     Time to initiate roots. —Approximately 9 days at a temperature of 21 degrees Centigrade is needed to produce rooted cuttings.       
     
       Physiological and ecological characteristics:
             Disease/pest resistance. —Plants of the new  Diascia  have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to  Diascia.        Temperature tolerance. —Plants of the new  Diascia  have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 35 degrees C.