Patent Publication Number: US-PP34429-P2

Title: New guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiroldala’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Impatiens hawkeri.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIROLDALA’. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR &amp; APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE 
     The Inventor and Applicant assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant, botanically known as  Impatiens hawkeri  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongiroldala’. 
     The new  Impatiens  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching, early and freely flowering New Guinea  Impatiens  plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance. 
     The new  Impatiens  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2018 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of  Impatiens hawkeri  identified as code number NN15-588729-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with  Impatiens hawkeri  ‘Dongimprolhopin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,148, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Impatiens  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2019. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Impatiens  plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since June, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new  Impatiens  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Impatiens  have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight 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 ‘Dongiroldala’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongiroldala’ as a new and distinct  Impatiens  plant:
         1. Moderately compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely branching habit; dense and full appearance.   4. Dark green-colored leaves.   5. Freely and early flowering habit.   6. Large ruffled reddish purple-colored flowers.   7. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Impatiens  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Impatiens  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Impatiens  are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Impatiens  are more mounding than and not as upright as plants of the female parent selection.   3. Flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are more ruffled and undulating than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.   4. Flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are dark pink in color.       

     Plants of the new  Impatiens  can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Dongimprolhopin’. Plants of the new  Impatiens  differ primarily from plants of ‘Dongimprolhopin’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dongimprolhopin’ are brighter red purple in color. 
     Plants of the new  Impatiens  can be compared to plants of  Impatiens hawkeri  ‘Kialdan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,029. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Impatiens  differ primarily from plants of ‘Kialdan’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Impatiens  are more compact than plants of ‘Kialdan’.   2. Plants of the new  Impatiens  have larger flowers than plants of ‘Kialdan’.   3. Flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are ruffled and undulating whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kialdan’ are flat and not ruffled.   4. Flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kialdan’ are light purple in color with white-colored centers.       

     Plants of the new  Impatiens  can also be compared to plants of  Impatiens hawkeri  ‘Kironanete’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,753. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Impatiens  differ primarily from plants of ‘Kironanete’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Impatiens  have larger flowers than plants of ‘Kironanete’.   2. Flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are ruffled and undulating whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kironanete’ are undulating and not ruffled.   3. Flowers of plants of the new  Impatiens  are reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kironanete’ are dark cherry red in color.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Impatiens  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  Impatiens  plant. 
       The photograph on the first sheet ( FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiroldala’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph on the second sheet ( FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Dongiroldala’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in winter and early spring in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea  Impatiens  production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 17 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Impatiens hawkeri  ‘Dongiroldala’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Impatiens hawkeri  identified as code number NN15-588729-003, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri  ‘Dongimprolhopin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,148.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—By terminal vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer and winter .—About five to seven days at temperatures about 27° C. and night temperatures about 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and winter .—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C. and night temperatures about 20° C.     Root description .—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching; dense.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Moderately compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially developing at every node; dense and full appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     Plant height .—About 26 cm.     Plant diameter .—About 50 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Length .—About 19 cm.     Diameter .—About 1.1 cm.     Internode length .—About 4 cm to 5 cm.     Strength .—Strong, stout; flexible.     Aspect .—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.     Texture and luster .—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.     Color, developing and fully developed .—Close to 148A variably overlain with close to 185A and 187A.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Typically in whorls; simple.     Length .—About 11 cm.     Width .—About 3.5 cm.     Shape .—Elliptic to narrowly ovate.     Apex .—Acuminate.     Base .—Attenuate.     Margin .—Serrate with ciliation.     Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate; arcuate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Initially, close to 146A becoming closer to 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Initially, close to 146A to 146B becoming closer to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; midvein, close to 183A to 183B and lateral venation, close to 183A and 183B and distally, closer to 147B and 146B.     Petiole length .—About 2 cm.     Petiole diameter .—About 3.5 mm.     Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.     Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces .—Close to 148B to 148C variably overlain with close to 187C and 183A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type and flowering habit .—Single, large ruffled rounded rectangular axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically about five to seven open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch; flowers positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers typically face mostly upright to outwardly.     Flower longevity .—Flowers typically last about four to seven days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.     Fragrance .—None detected.     Natural flowering season .—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin flowering about eleven weeks after planting.     Flower buds .—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid; rosebud-like when opening. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B overlain with close to 185C.     Flower diameter .—About 5.7 cm by 6.5 cm.     Flower depth .—About 2.25 cm.     Petals .—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 3.3 cm. Length, lateral petals: About 3 cm. Length, lower petals: About 4.4 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4.75 cm. Width, lateral petals: About 4 cm. Width, lower petals: About 4.4 cm. Shape, all petals: Broadly obcordate. Apex, all petals: Emarginate with praemorse tendencies. Base, all petals: Truncate to attenuate. Margin, all petals: Mostly entire with occasional and random indentations; undulate and ruffled and frilled appearance. Texture and luster, all petals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy; iridescent. Texture and luster, all petals, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy; iridescent. Color, all petals: When opening, upper surface: Close to NN74A. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN74B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN74A; venation, close to NN74A; color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN74B to NN74C; venation, close to NN74B to NN74C; color does not change with development.     Sepals .—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl; one modified into an elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.5 cm. Lateral sepal width: About 6.5 mm. Spur sepal length: About 1.6 cm. Spur sepal width: About 1.9 cm. Sepal shape: Broadly deltoid to broadly ovate. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to NN155D. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 144C to 144D variably tinged with close to 54A. Spur length: About 3.75 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Spur color: Close to 60A.     Peduncles .—Length: About 3 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm. Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to glossy. Color: Close to 144B variably overlain with close to 183A.     Reproductive organs .—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 3 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.     Seeds and fruits .—To date, seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the new  Impatiens.          
       Pathogen &amp; pest resistance: To date, plants of the new  Impatiens  have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Impatiens  plants.   Garden performance: Plants of the new  Impatiens  have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.