Patent Publication Number: US-PP15817-P2

Title: Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC02059’

Description:
Botanical classification/cultivar designation:  Calibrachoa  sp. cultivar KLEC02059. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant, botanically known as  Calibrachoa  sp., and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEC02059’. 
   The new  Calibrachoa  is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the program is to create new early-flowering  Calibrachoa  cultivars with compact and cascading growth habit, freely branching habit and attractive flower colors. 
   The new  Calibrachoa  originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 1999 of a proprietary selection of  Calibrachoa  identified as code number S 15, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selection of  Calibrachoa , not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Calibrachoa  was selected by the Inventor in May, 2000 in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany from within the resulting progeny from the cross-pollination. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since May, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new  Calibrachoa  are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Plants of the cultivar KLEC02059 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, water status and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype. 
   The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEC02059’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEC02059’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa:  
         1. Cascading plant habit.   2. Freely branching habit.   3. Early flowering habit.   4. Violet purple-colored flowers.   5. Good weather tolerance; tolerant to rain and wind and high and low temperatures.       

   Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower color. In addition, plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have a cascading plant habit, compared to the more upright plant habit of the female parent. 
   Plants of the cultivar KLEC02059 can be compared to plants of the  Calibrachoa  cultivar Million Bells Cherry, not patented. However in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new  Calibrachoa  and the cultivar Million Bells Cherry, differed in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  were more trailing than plants of the cultivar Million Bells Cherry.   2. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  and the cultivar Million Bells Cherry differed in flower color.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
     The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, 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  Calibrachoa.    
     The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘KLEC02059’ grown in a hanging basket container. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following description were grown under conditions that closely approximate commercial production conditions during the spring in Stuttgart, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were about five months old from planting rooted cuttings. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux. Plants grown in 12-cm containers were used for the description. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Calibrachoa  sp. cultivar KLEC02059.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent.— Proprietary selection of  Calibrachoa  sp. identified as S 15, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent.— Unidentified selection of  Calibrachoa  sp., not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting.— Terminal vegetative cuttings.     Time to produce a rooted young plant.— Summer: About 21 days at 20 to 26° C. Winter: About 28 days at 20° C.     Root description.— Fine, fibrous and white in color.     Rooting habit.— Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Form.— Annual flowering plant; initially upright to semi-upright then cascading; uniform flattened mounded appearance.     Usage.— Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patio containers.     Plant height  ( from soil level to top of plant plane ).—About 5 cm.     Plant diameter  ( area of spread ).—About 75 cm.     Growth rate.— Moderate.     Branching habit.— Freely branching, about five lateral branches per plant; pinching is typically not required.     Lateral branch description.— Length: About 35 to 40 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 0.5 to 2 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145A.     Foliage description.— Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and long persisting; sessile. Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 1 to 3 cm. Width: About 0.5 to 1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 146B. Developing foliage, lower surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 146A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 146B. Venation, upper surface: 146A. Venation, lower surface: 146C.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type and habit.— Flowers face somewhat upright or outward; single, axillary; salverform. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering habit, about five open flowers and about 15 to 20 flower buds per lateral stem. Flowers not fragrant.     Natural flowering season.— Spring until frost in the autumn; flowering continuous during this time.     Time to flower.— Early flowering; plants begin flowering about 12 weeks after planting.     Flower longevity on the plant.— About seven days.     Flower size.— Diameter: About 3 cm. Tube length: About 1.4 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 6 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 2 mm.     Flower buds.— Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Irregular, mostly oblong. Color: 150B.     Corolla.— Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.3 cm. Petal width: About 1.3 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate; slightly recurved. Apex: Crenate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, upper surface, when opening and fully opened: 82A; venation, 82A. Petal, lower surface, when opening and fully opened: 82C; venation, 178A. Flower throat (inside): 83B; venation, 83B. Flower tube (outside): 8A; venation, 83C.     Sepals.— Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals; calyx, star-shaped. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface: 136B. Color, lower surface: 136C.     Peduncles.— Length: About 1.5 to 2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 75° from vertical. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Color: 144A.     Reproductive organs.— Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 1 to 2 mm. Anther color: 11B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 11B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 149A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 150A. Ovary color: 154A.     Seed/fruit.— Seed and fruit production has not been observed.       
       Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have been noted to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have not been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to  Calibrachoas.      Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  are tolerant to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 1 to 50° C.