Patent Publication Number: US-PP35160-P2

Title: Quercus ‘QPMTF2’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species:  Quercus phellos.    
     Variety denomination: ‘QPMTF2’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety was discovered growing as a seedling among a group of open-pollinated  Quercus phellos  trees at a tree farm in Washington, Ga. The inventor made this discovery in 2009. The exact seed and pollen parents cannot be identified. 
     Asexual reproduction by grafting of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ was first performed during summer of 2010 at a farm in Washington, Ga. The cleft grafting system developed by the inventor has resulted in progeny that have proven the characteristics of the new variety to be genetically stable. This grafting process involved taking cuttings in February, being grafted, and being placed in calloused chambers for approximately three weeks. They are then moved into 3″×6″ tree band pots and placed in humidity chambers for approximately four weeks. Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that the new variety represents a new and improved variety of  Quercus phellos  tree as particularly evidenced by the smaller leaf, darker more dense willow oak, holds foliage longer, dark green mature growth against bright new growth, and dominant central leader. These genetic traits can be consistently reproduced by asexual propagation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘QPMTF2’ grown in Washington, Ga. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘QPMTF2’ as a new and distinct  Quercus phellos  cultivar:
         1. Small foliage.   2. Dark green foliage.   3. Holds foliage longer into the Fall than commercially known varieties.   4. Dark green mature growth against bright new growth.   5. Dominant central leader.   6. Dense canopy.       

     PARENT COMPARISON 
     The parent varieties cannot be specifically identified. 
     COMMERCIAL COMPARISON 
     Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of  Quercus phellos  ‘QPSTJ’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,922, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ in the following:
         1. The new variety has a broader canopy than this comparator.   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this comparator.       

     Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of  Quercus phellos  ‘QPSTA’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,677, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ in the following:
         1. The new variety has smaller foliage than this comparator.   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this comparator.       

     Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of  Quercus phellos  ‘QPSTB’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,321, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ in the following:
         1. The new variety has a broader canopy than this comparator.   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this comparator.   3. The new variety has yellow Fall foliage; this comparator has red Fall foliage.       

     Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of  Quercus phellos  ‘RT3’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,444, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ in the following:
         1. The new variety has a broader canopy than this comparator.   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this comparator.       

     Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of  Quercus phellos  ‘QPMTF’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,217, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ in the following:
         1. The new variety has smaller foliage than this comparator.   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this comparator.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photograph in  FIG.  1    illustrates a tree of the new variety at about 7 years of age. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a close-up view of the trunk surface. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a view of the foliage. 
     
    
    
     The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. 
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘QPMTF2’ plants grown outdoors and in a nursery in Washington, Ga. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. at night to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.
     Botanical classification:  Quercus phellos  ‘QPMTF2’.   

     PROPAGATION 
     
         
         Cleft grafting. 
         Root description: Woody. Brown roots not accurately measured with an R.H.S. Colour chart. 
       
    
     TREE 
     
         
         Growth habit: Deciduous broad pyramidal tree. 
         Height: Approximately 14 feet at 3 years. 
         Spread: Approximately 4 feet at 3 years. 
         Aspect and angle: Branches at 45 degrees or more from center. 
         Growth rate: Rapid. 
         Trunk characteristics:
             Diameter .—About 3 inches measured at approximately 3 inches above soil level at 3 years.     Color .—Near RHS Greyed-Green 198A, 198C with blotches Black 202A.     Surface texture .—Furrowed and scaly.       
     
       
    
     FOLIAGE 
     
         
         Leaf:
             Arrangement .—Alternate.     Shape .—Lanceolate or narrow elliptic.     Average length .—Average 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm excluding petiole.     Average width .—Approximately 1 cm.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Tapered.     Margin .—Entire     Texture of top surface .—Glabrous.     Texture of lower surface .—Glabrous.     Color .—Young foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Under side: Near RHS Green 143B. Mature foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Under side: Near RHS Green 137A.     Venation .—Type: Pinnate. Color: Venation color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A.     Petiole .—Length: Average 1 cm. Diameter: Average 2 mm. Color: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.       
     
       
    
     FLOWER 
     
         
         Not observed. 
       
    
     REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
     
         
         Not observed. 
       
    
     OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 
     
         
         Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of  Quercus  has been observed. 
         Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought observed.  Quercus phellos  can be moderately drought tolerance once established. 
         Temperature tolerance: USDA Zones 6 through 9. 
         Fruits/nuts: Not observed.