Patent Publication Number: US-PP30617-P2

Title: Helenium plant named ‘Balsaluemb’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Helenium autumnale.    
     Variety denomination: ‘Balsaluemb’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Helenium  plant botanically known as  Helenium autumnale  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsaluemb’. 
     The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, The Netherlands during August 2013. The objective of the breeding program was the development of  Helenium  cultivars having increased branching and a compact growth habit. 
     The new  Helenium  cultivar is the result of open-pollination within an insect-cage environment of three proprietary  Helenium autumnale  breeding selections coded D34-1, D34-2, and D34-3, not patented, characterized by varying shades of red and yellow bicolor, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2014 in a controlled environment in Hem, The Netherlands. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2014 in Hem, The Netherlands 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 ‘Balsaluemb’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Helenium  plant:
         1. Medium red and yellow bi-colored inflorescences;   2. Medium green-colored foliage;   3. Moderately vigorous, and compact-upright growth habit.       

     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parents primarily in having a more compact growth habit. 
     Of the many commercially available  Helenium  cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is MARIACHI ‘Bandera’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,397. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Bandera’ in at least the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer ray florets than plants of ‘Bandera’;   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color slightly different from plants of ‘Bandera’; and   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter inflorescences than plants of ‘Bandera’.       

    
    
     
       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 inflorescence 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 ‘Balsaluemb’. The plants were approximately five months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3 weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one at one week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsaluemb’. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsaluemb’. 
     
    
    
     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, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill. 
     The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately six-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 7 weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one at one week before transplant and one two weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Helenium autumnale  ‘Balsaluemb’.   Parentage:
             Female and male parents .—Proprietary  Helenium autumnale  breeding selections coded D34-1, D34-2, and D34-3, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting .—Terminal stem.     Time to initiate roots .—Approximately 10 to 12 days at 70° F. (21° C.).     Time to produce a rooted cutting .—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks at 70° F. (21° C.).     Root description .—Fibrous, medium to thin in thickness.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching, dense.       
       Plant description:
             Commercial crop time .—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm container.     Growth habit and general appearance .—Herbaceous perennial, moderately vigorous, and compact-upright, vernalization not required for flowering.     Hardiness .—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F./−34.4° C. to −31.7° C.).     Size .—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 35.0 cm. Width: Approximately 52.0 cm.     Branching habit .—Freely branching, pinching improves lateral branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 15.     Stems .—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to 45° angle. Shape: Mostly rounded with ridges from excurrent leaves. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 22.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color of young stems: 146D. Color of mature stems: 146C sometimes tinted with 187A, becoming woody 200B with age.       
       Foliage description:
             General description .—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.     Leaves .—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular to stem. Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Excurrent to stem. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.5 cm with excurrent portion of approximately 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm in lower node. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent with short hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: NN137A with midvein of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B with midvein of 147C.       
       Flowering description:
             Flowering habit .—‘Balsaluemb’ is a long day obligate, freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming from summer through autumn.     Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant .—Approximately 3 to 4 weeks.       
       Inflorescence description:
             General description .—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape: Radiant head. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance: None detected. Quantity per plant: Approximately 77. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.0 cm.     Peduncle .—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm to 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short appressed hairs. Color: 146B.     Bud .—Quantity per plant: Approximately 80. Shape: Globose becoming dome-shaped. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Depth: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color: 151A.     Ray florets .—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 12, occasionally with one or two being underdeveloped. Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Obdeltoid, fan-like. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Three lobed. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent, slightly longitudinally ribbed. Color of upper surface when first open: 5A mottled with 46A to 46B, typically only lobes appear to be yellow-colored. Color of lower surface when first open: 5B with an underlay of 46A to 46B. Color of upper surface when fully open: 5B mottled with 46A to 46B, typically only lobes appear to be yellow-colored. Color of lower surface when fully open: 5C with an underlay of 46A to 46B.     Disc florets .—Disc diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 210. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous with densely pubescent base. Color of upper or inner surface when first and fully open: 13D. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 13C to 13D mottled with 46A at tips, base of 155D.     Receptacle .—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 155D.     Phyllaries .—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 12. Arrangement: In a single whorl. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Densely pubescent with short hairs. Color of upper surface: 146B. Color of lower surface: 146C.     Reproductive organs .—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Anther color: 13A. Filament length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium: Present on both disc and ray florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Stigma color: 13B. Style length: Approximately 2.5 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 155D.       
       Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.