Patent Publication Number: US-PP17684-P2

Title: Geranium plant named ‘Balluresion’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Pelargonium×hortorum.    
   Variety denomination: ‘Balluresion’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant botanically known as  Pelargonium×hortorum  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balluresion’. 
   The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during March 2000. The objective of the breeding program was the development of  Geranium  cultivars with a vigorous and upright growth habit, medium green-colored foliage, and new and unique flower coloration. 
   The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was ‘Americana Dark Red’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,307, characterized by its dark red-colored florets, semi-double flowers on large umbels, medium green-colored foliage with faint zonation, and vigorous growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary  Pelargonium×hortorum  breeding selection designated BFP-2787, not patented, characterized by its scarlet red-colored florets, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous growth habit. The new  Geranium  was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2000 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2000 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all 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 ‘Balluresion’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant:
         1. Semi-double medium red-colored flowers;   2. Medium green-colored foliage with a slightly lighter green-colored zone; and   3. Vigorous and upright growth habit.       

   Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color, foliage color, and growth habit. 
   Of the many commercially available  Geranium  cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘BFP-1328 Red’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,399. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘BFP-1328 Red’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar have a taller plant height than plants of ‘BFP-1328 Red’;   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more florets per umbel than plants of ‘BFP-1328 Red’; and   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller florets, as measured by floret width and depth, than plants of ‘BFP-1328 Red’.       

   
     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 flower 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 ‘Balluresion’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balluresion’. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of a single umbel of ‘Balluresion’. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Balluresion’. 
   

   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, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 18, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill. 
   The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 75° F. (18° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 68° F. (17° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 3,500 to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.
     Botanical classification:  Pelargonium×hortorum  cultivar Balluresion.   Parentage:
             Female parent.— ‘Americana Dark Red’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,307.     Male parent.— Proprietary  Pelargonium×hortorum  breeding selection designated BFP-2787, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting.— Terminal stem.     Time to initiate roots.— Approximately 10 to 14 days.     Time to produce a rooted cutting.— Approximately 21 to 28 days.     Root description.— Fibrous.     Rooting habit.— Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Crop time.— Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a rooted cutting.     Growth habit and general appearance.— Vigorous and upright.     Size.— Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 23.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of foliage: Approximately 11.7 cm. Width: Approximately 24.8 cm.     Branching habit.— Freely basal branching. Approximately 3 branches per plant.     Branch.— Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 7.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short, soft hairs. Color: 144A. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately 9.3 mm.     Foliage.— Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 12. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate. Aspect: Petiole is at acute angle to stem and blade is at a right angle to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 6.2 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 9.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Densely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with dense pubescence along venation. Color of mature foliage upper surface: Closest to 146A at margin and around petiole attachment point with venation of 145C, and a zone of 147A between the areas of 146A. Color of mature foliage lower surface: 146B with venation of 145C. Petiole length: Approximately 5.4 cm. Petiole diameter: Approximately 2.3 mm. Petiole texture: Densely pubescent with short, soft hairs on both upper and lower surface. Petiole color: 144A.       
       Flowering description:
             Flowering habit.— ‘Balluresion’ is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse environment.     Time to first flower.— Approximately 10 weeks from sticking of unrooted cutting.     Lastingness of individual floret.— Approximately 5 to 7 days.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Type.— Umbel. Position: Above foliage. Number of open umbels at nine weeks: Approximately 1. Number of developing umbels at nine weeks: Approximately 1. Umbel diameter: Approximately 12.9 cm. Umbel height/depth: Approximately 8.7 cm. Number of flowers per umbel: Approximately 26. Fragrance: None.     Peduncle.— Strong, erect. Length: Approximately 13.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.8 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short, soft hairs. Color: 144A.       
       Flower description:
             Bud rate of opening.— Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to progress from first color to fully open flower.     Bud just before opening.— Shape: Elliptic. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Petal color: Closest to 45C. Sepal texture: Pubescent. Petal texture: Glabrous.     Corolla.— Form: Semi-double. Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 5.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm.     Petals/petaloids.— Quantity: Approximately 7 petals and 1 to 2 irregular shaped petaloids per flower. Appearance: Dull, velvety. Aspect: Cupped becoming flat then turning downward. Arrangement: Imbricate. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper and lower surface: Glabrous. Length of upper petal: Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 2.8 cm. Length of lower petal: 2.9 cm. Width of lower petal: 2.7 cm. Color of upper surface of upper petal: Closest to 45B with venation of 45A. Color of lower surface of upper petal: Closest to 45C with venation of 45A. Color of upper surface of lower petal: Closest to 45B with venation of 45C. Color of lower surface of lower petal: Closest to 45C with venation of 45B.     Pedicel.— Strength: Strong. Angle: Acute to stem. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.3 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short, soft hairs. Color: 145B with overlay of 187B at distal end.     Calyx.— Shape: Five-pointed star. Length/Depth: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 2.6 cm.     Sepals.— Quantity per floret: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Length of upper sepal: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of upper sepal: Approximately 4.6 mm. Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately 2.6 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with short, soft hairs. Color of upper and lower surface: 144B with venation of 187B at base.     Reproductive organs.— Androecium: Quantity of mature anthers: Approximately 9 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Anther color: 61A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color N163A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Five branched. Stigma length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma color: 61B. Style length: Approximately 2.5 mm. Style color: 61B. Ovary length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Sericeous. Ovary color: 144C.       
       Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to  Geranium  has not been observed.