Patent Publication Number: US-PP23923-P2

Title: Hibiscus plant named ‘Tonga Wind’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘TONGA WIND’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct  Hibiscus  plant, botanically known as  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tonga Wind’. 
     The new  Hibiscus  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching  Hibiscus  plants with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good garden performance. 
     The new  Hibiscus  plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in September, 2007 of a proprietary selection of  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  identified as code number YB-2450, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  identified as code number YB-2336, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Hibiscus  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Sep. 2, 2008. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Hibiscus  plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new  Hibiscus  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Hibiscus  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 ‘Tonga Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tonga Wind’ as a new and distinct  Hibiscus  plant:
         1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production.   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.   4. Bright red-colored flowers.   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Hibiscus  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  are more upright than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Flowers of plants of the new  Hibiscus  are slightly darker red in color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.       

     Plants of the new  Hibiscus  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored flowers with red-colored centers. 
     Plants of the new  Hibiscus  can be compared to plants of the  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  ‘Brilliant Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new  Hibiscus  differed from plants of ‘Brilliant Red’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  were more upright than plants of ‘Brilliant Red’.   2. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  were more freely branching than plants of ‘Brilliant Red’.   3. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  flowered earlier than plants of ‘Brilliant Red’.   4. Plants of the new  Hibiscus  had smaller flowers than plants of ‘Brilliant Red’.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Hibiscus  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  Hibiscus  plant. 
       The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Tonga Wind’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tonga Wind’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercial  Hibiscus  production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 24 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the 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:  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  ‘Tonga Wind’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent .—Proprietary selection of  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  identified as code number YB-2450.     Male or pollen parent .—Proprietary selection of  Hibiscus rosa - sinensis  identified as code number YB-2336, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—By vegetative terminal cuttings.     Time to initiate roots .—About 10 days at temperatures of 24° C.     Time to develop roots .—About four weeks at temperatures of 24° C.     Root description .—Thick, fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit .—Moderate branching; moderately dense.       
       Plant description:
             Plant form and growth habit .—Perennial, evergreen, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly mounded and dense; vigorous growth habit.     Branching habit .—Freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially develop at every node; pinching enhances lateral branch development.     Plant height .—About 31 cm.     Plant diameter  ( area of spread ).—About 41 cm.       
       Lateral branch description:
             Length .—About 18 cm.     Diameter .—About 7 mm.     Internode length .—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.     Aspect .—Upright to slightly outwardly spreading.     Texture .—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.     Color, immature .—Close to 147A.     Color, mature .—Close to 197A.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement .—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.     Length .—About 8.1 cm.     Width .—About 7.3 cm.     Shape .—Ovate.     Apex .—Acute to acuminate.     Base .—Obtuse, occasionally with cordate tendencies.     Margin .—Crenate.     Texture, upper and lower surfaces .—Smooth, glabrous.     Luster, upper surface .—Glossy.     Luster, lower surface .—Somewhat glossy.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate; arcuate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Much darker green than 147A; venation, much darker green than 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N137A to N137B; lateral venation, close to N137B; midvein, close to 146A.     Petiole .—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement and flowering habit .—Rounded star-shaped flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely flowering habit with about four to five flowers per terminal; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.     Natural flowering season .—Plants of the new  Hibiscus  flower naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.     Flower longevity .—Flowers last about two to three days on the plant; flowers persistent.     Flower diameter .—About 10.7 cm.     Flower length  ( height ).—About 7.5 cm.     Flower bud .—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants of the new  Hibiscus  have been observed to resist flower bud drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C. Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.     Petals .—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7.25 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; veins prominent on the lower surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 44A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 42B and 14C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44A; towards the base, close to 45A; color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 42B and 14C; color does not fade with development.     Sepals .—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: More green than 144A.     Bracts .—Appearance: About six to seven fused at base. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: More green than 147A.     Peduncles .—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: More green than 146A.     Reproductive organs .—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about 75 per flower. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 47A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Pistil number: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7.2 cm. Style length: About 6.3 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Style color: Towards the apex, close to 47A to 47C; towards the base, close to 45A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Ovary color: Close to 157A.     Seeds and fruits .—Seed and fruit production has not been observed on plants of the new  Hibiscus.          
       Garden performance: Plants of the new  Hibiscus  have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C.   Pathogen &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Hibiscus  grown under Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible to pathogens common to  Hibiscus  such as  Pseudomonas, Pythium  and  Phytophthora . Plants of the new  Hibiscus  have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens.