Patent Publication Number: US-PP20312-P2

Title: Dianthus plant named ‘Alva’

Description:
Genus:  Dianthus.    
   Species: × hybrida.    
   Denomination: ‘ALVA’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Dianthus  that is grown for use as a flowering plant for pots and containers and as a hardy perennial for the garden and landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as  Dianthus×hybrida  and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘ALVA’. 
   ‘ALVA’ is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of a long term breeding program conducted in a greenhouse environment in Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom. The primary focus of the breeding program is to produce new cultivars of  Dianthus  that exhibit unique growth habit and colors. The inventor selected ‘ALVA’ in 1999 for the color combination of its flowers. ‘ALVA’ exhibits a compact habit, grey-green fine foliage, and an abundance of single flowers that are colored magenta with a pale edge and a darker center. 
   ‘ALVA’ resulted from the open pollination between  Dianthus  code name ‘99-09’ as female parent, and an unknown male parent. Both parents have been raised by the inventor but have not been released or patented. 
   ‘ALVA’ is distinguishable from the female parent ‘99-09’ in flower size and flower color: the flowers of ‘99-09’ are smaller and do not exhibit the pale edge of the flowers of ‘ALVA’. 
   The varieties of  Dianthus  which is considered by the inventor to most closely resemble ‘ALVA’ are the inventor&#39;s varieties  Dianthus  ‘India Star’ (unpatented) and  Dianthus  ‘Red Dwarf’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,437). Whereas the plant habits of these varieties are similar to ‘ALVA’, the flower colors or color combinations are different. The flowers of ‘India Star’ are rose-colored with a ruby-red center. The flowers of ‘Red Dwarf’ are red-colored with darker red centers. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the inventor in 1999 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom. The method of asexual propagation used was vegetative cuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new  Dianthus  cultivar ‘ALVA’. These traits in combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor. ‘ALVA’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.
         1.  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ exhibits a compact habit.   2.  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ blooms profusely.   3.  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ exhibits flowers that are magenta with a pale edge and dark center that bloom from April through October.   4.  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ exhibits grey-green foliage.   5. At maturity, the height of the foliage mound of  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ is 20–24 cm; the width is 15–19 cm.   6.  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ is perennial and is hardy to −15° C.   7.  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’ is suitable for use as a flowering plant in pots and containers.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Dianthus  variety ‘ALVA’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘ALVA’.
         The drawing labeled as  FIG. 1  depicts an entire flowering plant.   The drawing labeled as  FIG. 2  depicts a close-up view of the flower.       

     All drawings were made of plants grown in 1.5-litre containers in a cold glasshouse in Devon, United Kingdom. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT 
   The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘ALVA’. Data was collected in spring from 1.5-litre container plants in spring, and grown indoors in Devon, United Kingdom. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2002 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The colors of stems, leaves, calyx, and epicalyx have been noted on plants which retain the characteristic waxy bloom of  Dianthus . No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions are typical to other  Dianthus.  
     Botanical classification:  Dianthus  ‘ALVA’.   Species:  ×hybrida.      Common name: Dwarf  Dianthus.      Commercial classification:  Dianthus  hybrid.   Type: Perennial.   Use: Used as a flowering plant for pots and containers and for planting in the garden or landscape.   Parentage: ‘ALVA’ is a complex hybrid plant that resulted from the induced open pollination between the following parent plants:
             Female parent plant.—Dianthus  ‘99.09’.     Male parent plant.— Unknown  Dianthus.          
       Plant description:
             Bloom period.— April through October.     Plant habit.— Compact mound with many branches and stems; upright growth.     Plant height.— 20 cm–24 after 9 months.     Plant width.— 15 cm–19 cm after 9 months.     Plant hardiness.— Hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.     Root system.— Fine fibrous roots.     Propagation.— Propagation is accomplished using vegetative cuttings.     Cultural requirements.— Grow in full sun, with moderate water, and well-drained moderately fertile soil. Remove dead flower heads to maintain flowering.     Diseases and pests.— Susceptible to known  Dianthus  pests and disease but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease are known to the inventor.     Time and temperature needed to produce a rooted cutting.— 3 weeks are needed to produce roots on cuttings using a mist propagation unit with bottom heat of 21° Centigrade, and a minimum air temperature of 15° Centigrade.     Crop time.— 3 months starting in the early spring through summer and 6 months starting in the fall is needed to produce a finished container size plant from a well-rooted cutting.       
       Stem:
             Shape.— Cylindrical.     Stem dimensions.— 6 cm to 8 cm in height and 3 mm to 4 mm in diameter.     Stem surface.— Glabrous and glaucous.     Stem color.— 145C.     Branching.— Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower leaves.     Internode length.— 6 mm to 10 mm between nodes.     Node color.— 145C.     Node dimensions.— 3 mm–4 mm in length and 3 mm in diameter.       
       Foliage:
             Type.— Evergreen.     Shape.— Linear and straight.     Division.— Simple.     Apex.— Acute.     Base.— Decurrent.     Venation.— Not Prominent.     Margins.— Entire.     Attachment.— Sheathing.     Arrangement.— Opposite and spiraling.     Surfaces  ( adaxial and abaxial ).—Glaucous.     Leaf dimensions.— 35 mm to 50 mm in length and 4 mm in width.     Leaf color  ( adaxial and abaxial surfaces ).—189A.     Fragrance.— Absent.       
       Flowers:
             Inflorescence.— Cymose.     Number of flowers per stem.— From 3 to 7.     Peduncle dimensions.— 16 cm to 20 cm in length and 3 mm in width.     Peduncle strength.— Erect.     Peduncle color.— 189B.     Flower development.— In sequence from the uppermost bud.     Flower type.— Salviform and symmetrical.     Flower shape.— Circular.     Flower profile.— Reflexed.     Flower dimensions.— (including calyx): 25 mm in length and 35 mm to 40 mm in width.     Fragrance.— Medium.     Petals.— Number: 5 petals. Profile: Wavy. Arrangement: Persistent, single, apopetalous, overlapping. Margin: Crenate-dentate with 1 mm indentations. Texture: Soft. Shape: Obdeltoid. Surface: Hairy in the band area like velvet with 1 mm hairs. Dimensions: 35 mm in length and 25 mm in width. Color (adaxial surface): Ground color of blade: 70B on border and N66A in the middle. Band across blade: 59A on a N66A background. Middle of strap: 145C. Base of strap: 145D. Color (abaxial surface): Ground color of blade: N66D. Band across blade: No band. Middle of strap: 145C. Base of strap: 145D.     Calyx.— Shape: Cylindrical. Longitudinal profile: Flat. Dimensions: 16 mm to 18 mm in length and 6 mm in diameter. Sepals: Fused. Number of sepals: 5. Sepal color: 143B on top and 143C. Anthocyanin: Present. Splitting: Not observed.     Epicalyx.— Bracts: 1 pair of 2. Shape of outer lobe: Acuminate. Dimensions: 9 mm in length and 8 mm in width. Color: N134A on the tip plus 149C. Anthocyanin: Present.     Bracteoles.— Number: 2. Dimensions: 10 mm in length and 6 mm in width. Color: 136A on the tip and 143A. Anthocyanin: Present.     Lastingness of flower.— Each individual flower lasts an average of 6 days at 20° C. on the plant.       
       Reproductive organs:
             Stamens.— Number: 10–20. Dimensions: 15 mm–20 mm in length and 0.5 mm in diameter. Color: NN155D.     Anthers.— Number: 10–20 (anthers absent on some filaments). Dimensions: 3 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Color: 84B. Attachment: Basifixed.     Pollen.— Present. Color: 157A.     Style.— Number: 2. Shoulder: Absent. Color: NN155D. Dimensions: 15 mm to 20 mm in length and 1 mm in width.     Stigma.— Number: Single. Color: 71A. Dimensions: 5 mm above petals at maturity.     Ovary.— Position: Superior. Dimensions: 6 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter. Shape: Spindle. Color (adaxial): 145A. Color (abaxial): 145B.       
       Seed: Present. Dimensions: 3 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter. Shape: Oval and flattened. Number 1–10. Color: 202A. Surface: Crinkled.