Patent Publication Number: US-PP30599-P2

Title: Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolalimart’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Ipomoea batatas.    
     Variety denomination: ‘Balsolalimart’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Ipomoea  plant botanically known as  Ipomoea batatas  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsolalimart’. 
     The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during October 2013. The objective of the breeding program was the development of ornamental  Ipomoea  cultivars with heart-shaped leaves and a moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading habit. 
     The new ornamental  Ipomoea  cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,028, characterized by its moderately-lobed to deeply-lobed chartreuse-colored foliage with a purple band at the leaf base, and compact, mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,437, characterized by its bronze to purple-bronze colored foliage and compact-mounded-spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2014 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the 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 ‘Balsolalimart’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Ipomoea  plant:
         1. Shallowly-lobed, medium lime-green colored foliage; and   2. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.       

     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having more shallowly-lobed foliage. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different foliage color. 
     Of the many commercially available ornamental  Ipomoea  cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SolarPower Lime Improved ‘Balsolalimli’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,536. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolalimli’ in at least the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar have more shallowly-lobed foliage than plants of ‘Balsolalimli’; and   2. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly darker colored leaves than plants of ‘Balsolalimli’.       

    
    
     
       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 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 ‘Balsolalimart’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Balsolalimart’. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Balsolalimart’. 
     
    
    
     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, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill. 
     The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Ipomoea batatas  ‘Balsolalimart’.   Parentage:
             Female parent .—‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,028.     Male parent .—‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,437.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting .—Terminal stem.     Time to initiate roots .—Approximately 3 to 4 days.     Time to produce a rooted cutting .—Approximately 21 to 28 days.     Root description .—Fibrous, medium thickness.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching.     Tuber description .—Not available, tuber formation not observed to date.       
       Plant description:
             Commercial crop time .—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.     Growth habit and general appearance .—Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading.     Size .—Height: Approximately 12.0 cm. Width: Approximately 30.0 cm.     Branching habit .—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal branching. Quantity of main lateral branches per plant: Approximately 9.     Branch .—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong, slightly flexible. Length: Approximately 6.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of young stems: Densely pubescent. Texture of mature stems: Moderately pubescent. Color of young stems: 145A. Color of mature stems: 145A with an overlay of 187B to 187A.       
       Foliage description:
             General description .—Quantity of leaves per main branch: Approximately 9. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate, spiral.     Leaves .—Shape: Roughly cordate in overall form, shallowly 3-lobed. Margin: Entire. Apex of central lobe: Broadly acuminate. Apex of lateral lobes: Broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate, with arcuate venation in the center lamina. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 10.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 8.0 cm. Length of central lobe: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of central lobe: Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: N144D with slightly lighter colored venation. Color of lower surface of young foliage: Closest to 145B with venation of 145C and a spot of 187B at leaf base. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 144A with slightly lighter colored venation and midvein of 187B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to 147D to 147C with venation of 145C, large veins have an overlay of 187B.     Petiole .—Length: Approximately 7.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Between 145B and 145C with an overlay of 187B at leaf attachment.       
       Flowering description: Not available, flower and seed formation not observed to date. The new ornamental  Ipomoea  cultivar is grown as a foliage plant and is not grown under conditions that are conducive to flower production.   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to  Ipomoea  has not been observed.