Patent Publication Number: US-PP28808-P3

Title: Phlox plant named ‘Appofamcer’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Phlox paniculata.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘APPOFAMCER’. 
     CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Title:  Phlox  Plant Named ‘APPOFALP’ 
     Applicant: Jelle van den Haak 
     Filed: Concurrently with this application as Ser. No. 14/999,217 
     Title:  Phlox  Plant Named ‘APPOTWPU’ 
     Applicant: Jelle van den Haak 
     Filed: Concurrently with this application as Ser. No. 14/999,218 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant, botanically known as  Phlox paniculata  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Appofamcer’. 
     The new  Phlox  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Andijk and Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and vigorous  Phlox  plants with numerous large flowers. 
     The new  Phlox  plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2009 in Andijk, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of  Phlox paniculata  identified as code number 047-08-010, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent, with a proprietary selection of  Phlox paniculata  identified as code number 047-08-008, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Phlox  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 environment in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands in August, 2013. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Phlox  plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Andijk, The Netherlands since 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new  Phlox  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Phlox  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 ‘Appofamcer’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Appofamcer’ as a new and distinct  Phlox  plant:
         1. Broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit.   2. Freely flowering habit, numerous large red purple-colored flowers.   3. Long flowering period.   4. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Phlox  and the female parent selection differ primarily in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Phlox  are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Phlox  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Phlox  and the male parent selection differ primarily in differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have dark purple-colored flowers. 
     Plants of the new  Phlox  can be compared to plants of  Phlox paniculata  ‘Appofalp’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently and  Phlox paniculata  ‘Appotwpu’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new  Phlox  differ primarily from plants of ‘Appofalp’ and ‘Appotwpu’ in flower color as plants of ‘Appofalp’ have soft purple-colored flowers with light purple-colored centers and plants of ‘Appotwpu’ have bright purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new  Phlox  have larger flowers than plants of ‘Appotwpu’. 
     Plants of the new  Phlox  can also be compared to plants of  Phlox paniculata  ‘Lord Clayton’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,960. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Phlox  and ‘Lord Clayton’ differ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Phlox  are more compact than plants of ‘Lord Clayton’.   2. Plants of the new  Phlox  and ‘Lord Clayton’ differ in leaf color as plants of ‘Lord Clayton’ have green-colored leaves that are flushed with purple.   3. Plants of the new  Phlox  and ‘Lord Clayton’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Lord Clayton’ have cherry red-colored flowers.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Phlox  plant 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  Phlox  plant. 
       The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Appofamcer’ grown in a container. 
       The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph) of ‘Appofamcer’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial  Phlox  production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were pinched five weeks after planting and were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following 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:  Phlox paniculata  ‘Appofamcer’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Phlox paniculata  identified as code number 047-08-010, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Phlox paniculata  identified as code number 047-08-008, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—By terminal cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer .—About 12 days at temperatures about 20° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter .—About 16 days at temperatures about 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer .—About 36 days at temperatures about 18° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter .—About 42 days at temperatures about 18° C.     Root description .—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically 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 .—Freely branching; dense.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Herbaceous perennial; broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit; overall shape, broadly obovate; low vigor to moderately vigorous in growth habit.     Plant height .—About 35.7 cm.     Plant width  ( spread ).—About 31.3 cm.     Lateral branches .—Quantity: About six primary lateral branches per plant. Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite, simple.     Length .—About 9.2 cm.     Width .—About 3.3 cm.     Shape .—Elliptic to obovate; slightly to moderately carinate.     Apex .—Apiculate.     Base .—Truncate.     Margin .—Entire; very finely serrate, inconspicious.     Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Glabrous; slightly rugose; matte.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 137D and 147B; venation, close to 144B.     Petioles .—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type and flowering habit .—Single rotate and salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly hemispherical in shape; freely flowering habit with about 90 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 500 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.     Fragrance .—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.     Natural flowering season .—Plants begin flowering about nine months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower continuously from July through September in The Netherlands.     Flower longevity .—Flowers last about ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.     Flower buds .—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Color: Close to 71B to 71C; developing tube, close to 145D; developing calyx, close to 143B to 143C, towards the apex, close to 197A.     Inflorescence height .—About 13.6 cm.     Inflorescence diameter .—About 12.7 cm.     Flower diameter .—About 3.2 cm.     Flower depth .—About 3.5 cm.     Petals .—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube; free parts slightly to moderately imbricate. Length: Overall, about 4 cm; lower fused portion, about 2.6 cm. Lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Free part, spatulate. Apex: Retuse to obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 50A and 53C; towards the throat, close to N57A; throat, close to 71A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 52B; tube, close to 72C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57B, 61B and 67A; towards the throat, more intense than N57A; throat, close to N78B; with development, color becoming closer to 68A and 73A, towards the throat, more intense than N57B, and throat, close to 77A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 70B to 70C; tube, close to N77B.     Sepals .—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B to 143C; towards the apex, close to 197A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B to 144C; towards the apex, close to N186B.     Peduncles .—Length, primary peduncles: About 9.6 cm. Diameter, primary peduncles: About 2 mm. Length, secondary peduncles: About 3.3 cm. Diameter, secondary peduncles: About 1.25 mm. Aspect, primary peduncles: Erect. Aspect, secondary peduncles: About 50° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.     Pedicels .—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B to 144C.     Reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five; filaments fused with petals. Filament length: About 0.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 155A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong; basifixed. Anther color: Close to 160C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length: About 2 cm. Style color: Close to N77D. Ovary color: Close to 143A.     Seeds and fruits .—Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Phlox.          
       Garden performance: Plants of the new  Phlox  have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6.   Pathogen &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Phlox  have been not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Phlox  plants.