Patent Publication Number: US-PP29016-P3

Title: Pelargonium plant named ‘Fipelbrosalni’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Pelargonium×hortorum.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘FIPELBROSALNI’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant, botanically known as  Pelargonium×hortorum , commonly referred to as Zonale Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fipelbrosalni’. 
     The new  Pelargonium  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Kako, Ethiopia and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering  Pelargonium  plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration. 
     The new  Pelargonium  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2012 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of  Pelargonium×hortorum  identified as code number 60039, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Pelargonium×hortorum  identified as code number 88845, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Pelargonium  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in July, 2013. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Pelargonium  plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new  Pelargonium  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Pelargonium  have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. 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 ‘Fipelbrosalni’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fipelbrosalni’ as a new and distinct  Pelargonium  plant:
         1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit.   2. Moderately freely basal branching habit.   3. Leaves with a prominent dark brownish purple-colored central zonal pattern and green-colored margins.   4. Early and freely flowering habit.   5. Semi-double salmon-colored flowers arranged on rounded umbels.   6. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Pelargonium  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower petal color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flower petals. In addition, plants of the new  Pelargonium  have semi-double flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have single-type flowers. 
     Plants of the new  Pelargonium  differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower petal color as plants of the male parent selection have light pink-colored flower petals. 
     Plants of the new  Pelargonium  can be compared to plants of  Pelargonium×hortorum  ‘Mrs. Pollock’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new  Pelargonium  differ primarily from plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Pelargonium  are more freely branching than plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’.   2. Leaves of plants of the new  Pelargonium  are dark brownish purple in color with green-colored margins whereas leaves of plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’ are green, brown and yellow in color.   3. Plants of the new  Pelargonium  have larger flowers than plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new  Pelargonium  plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new  Pelargonium  plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fipelbrosalni’ grown in a container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Zonale  Pelargonium  production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 17° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Pelargonium×hortorum  ‘Fipelbrosalni’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Pelargonium×hortorum  identified as code number 60039, not patented.     Male or pollen parent .—Proprietary selection of  Pelargonium×hortorum  identified as code number 88845, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—By vegetative terminal cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer and winter .—About ten days at temperatures about 19° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and winter .—About 18 days at temperatures about 19° C.     Root description .—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.     Rooting habit .—Moderately freely branching, medium density.       
       Plant description:
             Plant habit .—Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; densely foliated.     Growth and branching habit .—Moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; moderately freely basal branching habit.     Plant height, to top of floral plane .—About 22 cm to 24 cm.     Plant height, to top of foliar plane .—About 21 cm.     Plant width .—About 26 cm.     Lateral branches .—Length: About 15.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 145A.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Alternate; simple.     Length .—About 6.9 cm.     Width .—About 9 cm.     Shape .—Reniform.     Apex .—Rounded.     Base .—Cordate.     Margin .—Crenate.     Venation pattern .—Palmate.     Texture, upper surface .—Pubescent.     Texture, lower surface .—Smooth, glabrous.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 143D; venation, close to 143D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145B. Zonation pattern, upper surface only: Location: About 9 mm from the margin edge. Width: About 6.8 cm. Color: Close to N187A.     Petioles .—Length: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement .—Semi-double round flowers arranged in rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; flowers face upright to outwardly.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Quantity of flowers .—Freely flowering habit; about 26 flowers and flower buds per umbel and numerous umbels developing per plant during the flowering season.     Flowering season .—In The Netherlands, flowering is continuous from spring through the summer; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about eight weeks after planting.     Flower longevity .—Individual flowers last about five to seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.     Umbel height .—About 4.9 cm.     Umbel diameter .—About 6.5 cm.     Flower diameter .—About 3.9 cm by 4.1 cm.     Flower depth  ( height ).—About 1.1 cm.     Flower buds .—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 56B.     Petals .—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Round. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 41D; venation, close to 41D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 49C; venation, close to 49C.     Sepals .—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2.8 mm. Shape: Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.     Peduncle  ( umbel stem ).—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm, Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.     Pedicel  ( individual flower stem ).—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabous. Color: Close to 144B.     Reproductive organs .—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower: About five. Filament length: About 4.1 mm. Filament color: Close to 41A. Anther length: About 1 cm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 42A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 41C. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 41C. Ovary color: Close to 144A.     Fruits and seeds .—Fruit and seed development has not been observed on plants of the new  Pelargonium.          
       Disease &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Pelargonium  have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Pelargonium  plants.   Garden performance: Plants of the new  Pelargonium  have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 45° C.