Patent Publication Number: US-PP23901-P2

Title: Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekokuri’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Torenia  sp. 
     Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNREKOKURI’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant, botanically known as  Torenia  sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrekokuri’. 
     The new  Torenia  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact and freely branching  Torenia  plants with numerous attractive flowers. 
     The new  Torenia  plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary selection of  Torenia  sp, identified as code number 06-13-1, not patented. The new  Torenia  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in January, 2009. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Torenia  plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since February, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new  Torenia  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Torenia  have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature 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 ‘Sunrekokuri’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrekokuri’ as a new and distinct  Torenia  plant:
         1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.   2. Freely branching habit.   3. Freely flowering habit.   4. Light yellow and violet-colored flowers.   5. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Torenia  differ primarily from plants of the parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the parent selection have yellow-colored flowers with brownish tones. 
     Plants of the new  Torenia  can be compared to plants of  Torenia  ‘Danmoon20’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,176. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new  Torenia  and ‘Danmoon20’ differed in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Torenia  were shorter and had shorter internodes than plants of ‘Danmoon20’.   2. Plants of the new  Torenia  and ‘Danmoon20’ differed in flower color.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Torenia  plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new  Torenia  plant. 
       The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekokuri’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekokuri’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical for commercial  Torenia  production. During the production of the  Torenia  plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Torenia  sp. ‘Sunrekokuri’.   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of  Torenia  sp. identified as code number 06-13-1, not patented.   Propagation:
             Type .—By vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots .—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant roots .—About three to four weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.     Root description .—Fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Plant form/habit .—Compact and mounded to trailing plant habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant, pinching enhances branching potential.     Plant height .—About 15.6 cm.     Plant width  ( spread ).—About 58.6 cm.     Lateral branches .—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 4.9 cm. Aspect: Upright to decumbent. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite, simple.     Length .—About 3 cm.     Width .—About 3 cm.     Shape .—Broadly ovate.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Truncate.     Margin .—Serrate.     Texture, upper and lower surfaces .—Pubescent.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate; reticulate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D; venation, close to 144B.     Petiole .—Length: About 7.7 mm. Diameter: About 0.7 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type/habit .—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils; corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely upright; freely flowering habit with about 59 flowers developing per plant.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Natural flowering season .—Plants begin flowering about three to four weeks after planting; long flowering period; continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in Japan.     Postproduction longevity .—Flowers last about four days on the plant.     Flower buds .—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 6.4 mm. Shape: Ellipsoidal. Color: Close to 83A; towards the apex, close to 5A.     Flower diameter .—About 2.8 cm by 2.5 cm.     Flower depth .—About 3.3 cm.     Throat diameter .—About 9.4 mm.     Tube diameter, base .—About 2.9 mm.     Tube length .—About 2 cm.     Petals .—Quantity per flower: Bilabiate with one upper or banner petal and one lower petal with two lateral and one lower lobes, petals fused. Upper petal: Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing, upper surface: Close to 2A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 3D. Fully developed, upper surface: Close to 2A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 2D. Lower petal: Length, lateral lobes: About 9.5 mm. Width, lateral lobes: About 1.5 cm. Length, lower lobe: About 1.4 cm. Width, lower lobe: About 1.5 cm. Shape, lateral and lower lobes: Elliptic. Apex, lateral and lower lobes: Rounded. Margin, lateral and lower lobes: Entire. Texture, lateral and lower lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, lateral lobes: Developing, upper surface: Close to 2D. Developing, lower surface: Close to 3D. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 2D. Color, lower lobes: Developing, upper surface: Close to 2D; blotch, close to 7A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 3D. Fully developed, upper surface: Close to 2D; blotch, close to 7A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 2D. Throat color: Close to 87C. Tube color: Close to 88A.     Sepals .—Quantity per flower: Typically five, fused; ellipsoidal; margins winged. Calyx length: About 1.8 cm. Calyx diameter: About 6.9 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.     Peduncles .—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143C.     Reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament length: About 4 mm to 14 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 3 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to N82C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Stigma shape: Elliptic. Stigma color: Close to N155C. Style color: Close to N155C. Ovary color: Close to 144B.     Seeds and fruits .—Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Torenia.          
       Disease &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Torenia  have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Torenia.      Garden performance: Plants of the new  Torenia  have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 30° C.