Patent Publication Number: US-PP20297-P2

Title: Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserpinkim’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Osteospermum ecklonis.    
   Variety denomination: ‘Balserpinkim’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant botanically known as  Osteospermum ecklonis  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserpinkim’. 
   The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Santa Paula, Calif. during May 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of  Osteospermum  cultivars that are freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a freely branching, compact, and upright growth habit. 
   The new  Osteospermum  cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietary  Osteospermum ecklonis  breeding selection designated 160-4,7-4op-2, not patented, characterized by its medium pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during February 2006 in a controlled environment at Santa Paula, Calif. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since February 2006 at Santa Paula, Calif.; Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserpinkim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant:
         1. Medium pink-colored flowers;   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and   3. Moderately vigorous and upright-mounded growth habit.       

   Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in plant height and peduncle length. The new cultivar is shorter than and has shorter peduncles than the parent. 
   Of the many commercially available  Osteospermum  cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is FlowerPower Pink ‘KLEO04109’, U.S. Plant Patent Applied For. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘KLEO04109’ in at least the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of ‘KLEO04109’;   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences per plant than plants of ‘KLEO04109’;   3. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter peduncles than plants of ‘KLEO04109’; and   4. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different from plants of ‘KLEO04109’.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balserpinkim’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 12 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balserpinkim’. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balserpinkim’. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. 
   The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jun. 13, 2008 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill. 
   The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 12 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one week prior to transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Osteospermum ecklonis  cultivar Balserpinkim.   Parentage:
             Parent.— Proprietary  Osteospermum ecklonis  breeding selection designated 160-4,7-4op-2, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting.— Terminal stem.     Time to initiate roots.— Approximately 9 to 12 days.     Time to produce a rooted cutting.— Approximately 28 to 32 days.     Root description.— Fibrous.     Rooting habit.— Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Commercial crop time.— Approximately 10 to 13 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.     Growth habit and general appearance.— Moderately vigorous and upright-mounded.     Size.— Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 22.6 cm. Width: Approximately 28.4 cm.     Branching habit.— Freely branching, pinching improves basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 3.     Branch.— Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately 12.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.5 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 8.3 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stem: 144B. Color of mature stem: 144B with a faint overlay of 187A.       
       Foliage description:
             General description.— Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 14. Fragrance: Pungent. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.     Leaves.— Aspect: Acute angle to stem becoming an obtuse angle with age. Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Widely dentate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.8 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent on margin and sparsely glandular pubescent on surface. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 138B with venation of 144D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 138A with venation of 144D.     Petiole.— Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.5 mm. Texture: Mixture of glandular and non-glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless. Color: 145B.       
       Flowering description:
             Flowering habit.— ‘Balserpinkim’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in greenhouse environment.     Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.— Approximately 8 to 10 days.       
       Inflorescence description:
             General description.— Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held above the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance: Pungent. Quantity per plant: Approximately 10. Diameter: Approximately 7.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm.     Peduncle.— Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 8.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color: 144B.     Bud.— Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per plant: Approximately 6.     Bud just before opening.— Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: 154B, as bud opens an overlay of N187D develops.     Ray florets.— Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20. Arrangement: Imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect: Initially at acute angle to disc, becoming perpendicular at maturity. Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate with three tips. Base: Attenuate, fused to form a tube. Length: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: 79B at base transitioning toward apex to N78C with irregular areas of 155D on lower margins. Color of lower surface when first open: 76A with a central overlay of 145D. Color of upper surface when fully open: 79B at base transitioning toward apex to N78C with streaks of N78D to 76C on lower margins. Color of lower surface when fully open: 76A with a faint central overlay of 145D.     Disc florets.— Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 90. Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Attenuate, fused. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter at apex: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when fully open: 79A at tips with center of N77D and base of 144D.     Disc.— Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 4.0 mm.     Receptacle.— Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color. 158D.     Phyllaries.— Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 15. Arrangement: In a single whorl. Shape: Linear to lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper or inner surface: 138B. Color of lower or outer surface: 138A.     Reproductive organs.— Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, fused around the style. Stamen length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 79A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 24B. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 79A. Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: N77D at apex fading to colorless, transparent toward base. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 144D.       
       Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to  Osteospermum  has not been observed.