Patent Publication Number: US-2013254954-P1

Title: Osteospermum plant named &#39;KLEOE11193&#39;

Description:
GENUS AND SPECIES 
       Osteospermum ecklonis  Norl. 
     VARIETY DENOMINATION 
     ‘KLEOE11193’ 
     BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
     The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of  osteospermum,  botanically known as  Osteospermum ecklonis  Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE11193’. The new variety originated from a controlled cross conducted in May 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. The female parent was  osteospermum  plant named ‘08 300’ (unpatented), and the male parent was  osteospermum  plant named ‘08 145’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation. 
     The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in May 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings for three to four generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings. 
     Plant Breeder&#39;s Rights for this variety were applied for in the following countries: Switzerland on Jun. 28, 2011, the European Union on Jul. 7, 2011, and Canada on Jan. 18, 2012. ‘KLEOE11193’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.
         1. Creamy white colored ray florets with brown-bronze colored disc florets of the corolla;   2. Double flowering type; and   3. Good branching.       

    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       This new  osteospermum  plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in spring 2011 on a 3-month old plant grown in a heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditions which approximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
     The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE11193’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the spring of 2011 on 6-month old plants grown in 12 centimeter pots. The plants were grown in a heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany and pinched once at approximately 16 weeks old. Color readings were taken under natural and artificial light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007). 
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT 
     
         
         Classification: 
         Family: Asteraceae 
         Botanical name:  Osteospermum ecklonis  Norl. 
         Common name: African daisy 
         Denomination: ‘KLEOE11193’ 
         Parentage: 
         Female parent:  Osteospermum  plant named ‘08 300’ (unpatented) 
         Male parent:  Osteospermum  plant named ‘08 145’ (unpatented) 
         Plant: 
         Form and habit: Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as an annual 
         Growth habit: Vigorous 
         Branching habit: Freely branching 
         Height (from top of soil): 20.5 cm 
         Width (including inflorescence): 21.0 cm 
         Propagation: Vegetative cuttings from tips 
         Time to produce a finished flowering plant: 14 to 16 weeks 
         Time to initiate and develop roots: 3 to 4 weeks 
         Root description: Freely rooting 
         Leaves: 
         Arrangement: Arranged in a whorl 
         Shape: Lanceolate 
         Apex: Acute 
         Base: Acute 
         Margin: Serrate 
         Color:
             Immature leaf.— Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 137C.     Mature leaf.— Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS 137B.       
     
         Length: 7.0 cm 
         Width: 2.5 cm 
         Texture: Leathery 
         Petiole: Absent 
         Stems: 
         Total number of branches: 6 to 8 
         Length: 14.0 cm to 16.0 cm 
         Diameter: 0.35 cm 
         Internode length: 0.9 cm to 1.7 cm 
         Color: RHS 137D 
         Texture: Smooth 
         Inflorescence buds: 
         Shape: Obovate 
         Length: 1.1 cm 
         Diameter: 0.7 cm 
         Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold): RHS 137A 
         Inflorescence: 
         Type: Single 
         Blooming habit: Spring to autumn 
         Quantity of inflorescences per plant: 9 to 11 
         Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant: 11 to 14 days 
         Fragrance: Absent 
         Inflorescence diameter: 4.5 cm to 5.3 cm 
         Disc diameter: 3.2 cm to 3.5 cm 
         Disc florets: 
         Quantity per inflorescence: 60 to 100 
         Shape: Oblanceolate 
         Tube color (both closed and mature): RHS 177C at the top and RHS 76B at the bottom 
         Length: 1.1 cm to 1.4 cm 
         Diameter (at apex): 0.2 cm 
         Apex: Obtuse 
         Apex color: RHS 177C 
         Base: Acute, fused into a tube 
         Margin: Entire 
         Ray florets: 
         Quantity per inflorescence: 20 to 22 
         Shape: Oblanceolate 
         Color:
             Upper surface.— RHS 155B.     Lower surface.— RHS 177C.       
     
         Length: 2.4 cm to 2.6 cm 
         Width: 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm 
         Apex: Obtuse 
         Base: Acute 
         Margin: Entire 
         Texture (both surfaces): Smooth 
         Peduncle: 
         Length: 5.0 cm to 8.0 cm 
         Diameter: 0.2 cm 
         Texture: Rough 
         Color: RHS 137D 
         Phyllaries: 
         Arrangement: Single 
         Observed quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 25 
         Shape: Lanceolate 
         Color:
             Upper surface.— RHS 137A.     Lower surface.— RHS 137C.       
     
         Length: 1.2 cm 
         Width: 0.1 cm 
         Apex: Acute 
         Base: Obtuse 
         Margin: Entire 
         Texture: Rough 
         Reproductive organs: 
         Androecium:
             Location.— Base of the disc floret corolla.     Stamens.— Quantity: Approximately 80 Shape: Filamentous Color: RHS 202A Filament length: 0.45 cm Filament diameter: 0.08 cm.     Anther.— Shape: Elliptical Color: RHS 202A Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.08 cm.     Pollen.— Color: RHS 13A Amount: Sparse.       
     
         Gynoecium:
             Location.— Base of the ray florets; stigmas in disc florets are degenerated and non-functional.     Pistils.— Number: 22 Length: 0.38 cm Diameter: 0.04 cm.     Stigma.— Color: RHS N77A Shape: Bipartite Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.04 cm.     Style.— Color: RHS 76C Length: 0.18 cm Diameter: 0.03 cm Shape: Filamentous.       
     
         Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed. 
         Disease and insect/pest resistance: No specific observations were made. 
       
    
     Comparison with Parental and Commercial Variety 
     ‘KLEOE11193’ differs from the female parental  osteospermum  plant ‘08 300’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE11193’ has creamy white colored ray florets, brown-bronze colored disc florets of the corolla and a good branching habit, whereas ‘08 300’ has white colored ray florets, pink colored disc florets of the corolla, and a medium branching habit. 
     ‘KLEOE11193’ differs from the male parental  osteospermum  plant ‘08 145’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE11193’ has uniformly enlarged disc florets of the corolla, whereas ‘08 145’ has normal size disc florets of the corolla.