Patent Publication Number: US-PP27014-P2

Title: Delosperma plant named ‘DSAA13-1’

Description:
Botanical classification:  Delosperma cooperi.    
     Variety denomination: ‘DSAA13-1’. 
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed for plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitled  Delosperma  Plant Named ‘DSAB13-1’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/544,006),  Delosperma  Plant Named ‘DSAM13-1’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/544,007). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Delosperma  plant, botanically known as  Delosperma cooperi  ‘DSAA13-1’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘DSAA13-1’. The new cultivar of  Delosperma  is a herbaceous perennial grown for container and landscape use. 
     The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ichinimiya-City, Aichi-Pref, Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars of  Delosperma  plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habits combined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flower colors. 
     ‘DSAA13-1’ was selected in the Inventor&#39;s trial garden in 2012 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from self-crossing an unnamed and unpatented plant from the Inventor&#39;s breeding program in 2011. The Inventor&#39;s reference number for the parent plant is DSAA12-1. 
     Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood cuttings in 2012 by the Inventor in Ichinimiya-City, Aichi-Pref, Japan. Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings has determined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘DSAA13-1’ as a unique cultivar of  Delosperma.  
         1. ‘DSAA13-1’ exhibits a compact and very horizontal plant habit.   2. ‘DSAA13-1’ exhibits relatively small leaves.   3. ‘DSAA13-1’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit.   4. ‘DSAA13-1’ exhibits flowers with petals that are red-orange in color at the apex blending into red-purple near the base and white petaloids and yellow anthers.
 
The parent plant of ‘DSAA13-1’, Ref. No. DSAA12-1, differs from ‘DSAA13-1’ in having flowers with petals that are pink in color. ‘DSAA13-1’ can also be most closely compared to cultivars with co-pending patent applications from the same breeding program, that differ from ‘DSAA13-1’ mostly in flower color; ‘DSAB13-1’ and ‘DSAM13-1’. ‘DSAB13-1’ differs from ‘DSAA13-1’ in having flowers with petals that are bright purple-pink in color. ‘DSAM13-1’ differs from ‘DSAA13-1’ in having flowers with petals that are bright red purple in color at the apex and lighter red-purple near the base.
       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new  Delosperma . The plant in the photograph is 2 months in age as grown in a 12-cm container outdoors in Lisse, The Netherlands. 
       The photograph in  FIG. 1  provides a side view of ‘DSAA13-1’ in bloom. 
       The photograph in  FIG. 2  provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘DSAA13-1’. 
       The photograph in  FIG. 3  provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘DSAA13-1’. 
       The 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  Delosperma.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The following is a detailed description of two month-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 12-cm containers outdoors in Lisse, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     General description:
             Blooming period. —Mid April to mid September in Lisse, The Netherlands.     Plant type. —Herbaceous perennial.     Plant habit. —Compact and very horizontal.     Plant size. —About 5.8 cm in height and about 14.3 cm in diameter as grown in a 12-cm container.     Cold hardiness. —Observed to be hardy at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.     Diseases. —No more susceptible or resistant to diseases than other  Delosperma cooperi  varieties.     Root description. —Fibrous roots.     Propagation. —Softwood cuttings.     Growth habit. —Moderately vigorous.     Root development. —Roots initiate and fill a 104-cell plug in 3 weeks and the planted plugs fully develop in 9-cm container within 6 weeks.       
       Stem description:
             Shape. —Round.     Stem color. —199A.     Stem size. —Lateral branches; an average of 3.8 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter.     Internode length. —An average of 1.7 cm.     Stem substance. —Succulent.     Stem surface. —Moderately glossy, densely pubescent with very short glandular hairs; an average of 0.15 mm in length and 156D in color.     Branching habit. —Average of 15 lateral branches.       
       Foliage description:
             Leaf shape. —Ligulate, triangular in diameter.     Leaf substance. —Succulent.     Leaf division. —Simple.     Leaf base. —Cuneate.     Leaf apex. —Acute.     Leaf venation. —No veins visible.     Leaf margins. —Entire.     Leaf arrangement. —Opposite.     Leaf surface  ( upper and lower surface ).—Slightly glossy, slightly pubescent with very short glandular hairs; to small to measure size, 157D in color.     Leaf color. —Young and mature upper and lower surface; 138A.     Leaf size. —About 2.8 cm in length and 4 mm in width.     Leaf quantity. —Average of 6 (3 pairs) per lateral branch.     Leaf attachment. —Sessile.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Inflorescence type. —Flowers solitary.     Flower number. —An average of 2 per lateral stem, 75 flowers and buds per plant in a 12-cm container.     Flower fragrance. —Faint, sweet and pleasant.     Flower aspect. —Upright to slightly outward.     Flower longevity. —A few days.     Flower type. —Single.     Flower size. —Average of 1.9 cm in diameter and 7 mm in depth.     Flower buds. —Broadly ovate, an average of 9 mm in length and 5 mm in diameter, color; 137B, tinged 179C to 179D, base 144B.     Calyx. —Rotate in shape, average of 5 mm in depth and 1.4 cm in diameter.     Sepals.— 5, broad ovate in shape, margin entire, an average of 6 mm in length and 3 mm in width, broadly acute apex, broadly cuneate base, both surfaces finely pubescent, color young upper and lower surface; 137B, color mature upper and lower surface; 143A to 143B.     Petals. —An average of 40 per flower, rotate and slightly curved, narrowly oblanceolate in shape, surface is smooth on both surfaces, margin entire, apex obtuse, base cuneate, an average of 8 mm in length and 0.175 cm in width, when opening upper surface 34A, base 70C to 70D, when opening lower surface 53A, base 70C, when fully open 34A, mid-section 32B, base 70C, when fully open lower surface 53A, base 70C.     Petaloids. —An average of 30 per flower, rotate and near vertical surrounding stamens, lanceolate in shape, surface is moderately to highly glossy on both surfaces, margin entire, apex attenuate, base truncate, an average of 4 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, color of immature and mature upper and lower surface NN155C, tip is 75C to 75D.     Peduncle. —Average of 1.4 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter, weak in strength, straight on top of lateral branch at 0°, 199A to 199B in color, surface moderately glossy, sparsely to moderately pubescent with very short glandular hairs.     Petioles. —None, individual flowers directly on peduncles.     Pedicel. —Average of 1.4 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter, weak in strength, straight on top of lateral branch at 0°, 199A to 199B in color, surface moderately glossy, sparsely to moderately pubescent with very short glandular hairs.       
       Reproductive organs:
             Pistils.— 5, an average of 1.8 mm in length, style and stigma are not distinguishable, 144B to 144C in color, ovary is 143C in color.     Stamens. —Average 60, anthers are dorsifixed, narrowly oblong in shape, an average of 0.5 mm in diameter, filaments are 2.5 mm in length and 14D in color, stamen is 13A in color, pollen is moderate to high in quantity and 13C in color.     Fruit. —Fruit and seed production was not observed under the conditions tested.