Patent Publication Number: US-PP21809-P2

Title: Calibrachoa plant named ‘Suncalcos’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Calibrachoa  sp. 
     Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNCALCOS’. 
     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 ‘Suncalcos’. 
     The new  Calibrachoa  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new mounding and freely-branching  Calibrachoa  plants with attractive and unique flower coloration. 
     The new  Calibrachoa  plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection of  Calibrachoa  sp. identified as code number 3156-8, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Calibrachoa  sp. identified as code number 3138-5, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Calibrachoa  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 Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2007. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Calibrachoa  plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new  Calibrachoa  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices 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 ‘Suncalcos’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Suncalcos’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa:  
         1. Compact and mounding plant habit.   2. Vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.   4. Long flowering period.   5. Large dark reddish purple-colored flowers.   6. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  are more compact and mounding than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light pink-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  are more compact and mounding than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have vivid pink-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  can also be compared to plants of ‘Sunbelkos’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,094. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new  Calibrachoa  and ‘Sunbelkos’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  were more compact and mounding than plants of ‘Sunbelkos’.   2. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  were more freely branching than plants of ‘Sunbelkos’.   3. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  had shorter internodes than plants of ‘Sunbelkos’.   4. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  had longer and broader leaves than plants of ‘Sunbelkos’.   5. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  were more freely flowering than plants of ‘Sunbelkos’.   6. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  had larger flowers than plants of ‘Sunbelkos’.   7. Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  and ‘Sunbelkos’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Sunbelkos’ had more reddish-colored flowers.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Calibrachoa , 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  Calibrachoa.    
       The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suncalcos’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Suncalcos’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four and five months old when the description and photographs, respectively, were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Calibrachoa  sp. ‘Suncalcos’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent. —Proprietary selection of  Calibrachoa  sp. identified as code number 3156-8, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent. —Proprietary selection of  Calibrachoa  sp. identified as code number 3138-5, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type. —By vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots. —About one week at 15° C. to 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant. —About three weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.     Root description. —Fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit. —Compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant; pinching is not required, but will enhance lateral branch development; vigorous growth habit.     Plant height. —About 15.6 cm.     Plant diameter. —About 50.2 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Length. —About 23.2 cm.     Diameter. —About 2.1 mm.     Internode length. —About 6 mm.     Strength. —Strong.     Aspect. —Upright to outward.     Texture. —Pubescent.     Color. —Close to 144B.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement. —Alternate, simple.     Length. —About 4.6 cm.     Width. —About 1.7 cm.     Shape. —Obovate.     Apex. —Broadly acute.     Base. —Obtuse to cuneate.     Margin. —Entire.     Texture, upper and lower surfaces. —Pubescent.     Venation pattern. —Pinnate; reticulate.     Color. —Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 145A.     Petiole. —Length: About 3.6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement and habit. —Single salverform flowers arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually about 74 open flowers per plant at one time; flowers face upright or outwardly.     Fragrance. —None detected.     Natural flowering season. —Early flowering habit, plants of the new  Calibrachoa  initiate and develop flowers about three to four weeks after planting; long flowering period; flowering commences naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.     Flower longevity. —Individual flowers last about seven to ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.     Flower diameter. —About 4.4 cm.     Flower length  ( depth ).—About 3.1 cm.     Throat diameter. —About 9 mm.     Tube length. —About 1.6 cm.     Tube diameter. —About 2.2 mm.     Flower bud. —Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: Close to N78B.     Corolla. —Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.7 cm. Petal width: About 2.1 cm. Petal shape: Spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded with truncate tendencies. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N74A; towards the throat, close to 72A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 72B to 72C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74B; towards the throat, close to 72A; color becoming lighter than N74B with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to N74C. Throat: Close to 1B. Tube: Close to 150D.     Calyx. —Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 9 mm to 16.5 mm. Sepal width: About 3.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 137B.     Peduncles. —Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 145A.     Reproductive organs. —Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower. Stamen length: About 6.3 mm to 11 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 0.9 mm by 1.4 mm. Anther color: Close to 9C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 10B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 9.1 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to N144C. Ovary color: Close to 145A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Calibrachoa.          
       Garden performance: Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Calibrachoa  have not been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to  Calibrachoa.