Patent Publication Number: US-PP35164-P2

Title: Echinacea plant named ‘Balsompotin’

Description:
Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:  Echinacea  x  hybrida.    
     Variety denomination: ‘Balsompotin’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant botanically known as  Echinacea  x  hybrida  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsompotin’. 
     The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during July 2012. The objective of the breeding program was the development of  Echinacea  cultivars with a single inflorescence form having imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact-upright growth habit. 
     The new  Echinacea  cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is POWWOW Wild Berry ‘PAS70291 7 ’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by its single-type, medium red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary  Echinacea  x  hybrida  breeding selection coded E101-4-10, not patented, characterized by its single-type, medium red colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2018 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagation since July 2018 in 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 ‘Balsompotin’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant:
         1. Single-type, bright red-purple colored inflorescences;   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.       

     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having brighter red-purple colored inflorescences, more main stems per plant, and a more compact growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of male parent primarily in having red-purple colored inflorescences unlike the red-colored inflorescences of the male parent and in having a more compact-upright growth habit. 
     Of the many commercially available  Echinacea  cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Sombrero Poco Hot Coral ‘Balsomcor’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,097. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomcor’ in at least the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new cultivar have a red-purple ray floret color that is different from the red-orange ray floret color of plants of ‘Balsomcor’; and   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more ray florets per inflorescence than plants of ‘Balsomcor’.       

    
    
     
       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 inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsompotin’. The plants were approximately 5.5 months old. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsompotin’. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsompotin’. 
     
    
    
     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 July 2022 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill. 
     The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 5.5-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Approximately eight weeks after transfer to a greenhouse, plantlets were transplanted into one-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium and grown for six weeks. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately two months. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.
     Botanical classification:  Echinacea  x  hybrida  ‘Balsompotin’.   Parentage:
             Female parent .—POWWOW Wild Berry ‘PAS702917’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.     Male parent .—Proprietary  Echinacea  x  hybrida  breeding selection coded E101-4-10, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are possible.     Time to initiate roots in vitro .—Approximately 30 days at 18° C.     Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer .—Approximately 30 days at 18° C.     Root description .—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in color.     Rooting habit .—Moderate density, moderate branching.       
       Plant description:
             Commercial crop time .—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm container.     Growth habit and general appearance .—Herbaceous perennial, moderately vigorous, compact-upright.     Hardiness .—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−32° C. to −29° C.).     Size .—Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 28.0 cm. Width: Approximately 34.0 cm.     Branching habit .—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately 5.     Stems .—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 19.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems: 146B to 146C with an overlay of 187A.       
       Foliage description:
             General description .—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.     Leaves .—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 11.0 cm to 18.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm to 5.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Dull, sparsely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 145C.     Petiole .—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 145B to 145C.       
       Flowering description:
             Flowering habit .—‘Balsompotin’ is freely flowering blooming from late spring through late summer under outdoor growing conditions.     Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant .—Approximately 3 weeks.       
       Inflorescence description:
             General description .—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Height: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm.     Peduncle .—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately 45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 10.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color: 146B to 146C with an overlay of 187A.     Bud .—Quantity per plant: Approximately 9. Shape: Flattened globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 cm. Color: Outer ray florets of 186B with bud center of 144A.     Ray florets .—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 19. Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Elliptic. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire. Apex: Three acute tips. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.6 cm. Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface when first open: N74A blended with 71A and 70A. Color of lower surface when first open: 186A to 186B. Color of upper surface when fully open: 70A blended with 71A and N74A, with senescence fades to closest to 186C with 64A. Color of lower surface when fully open: 186A to 186B.     Disc florets .—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 200. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or inner surface when first and fully open: 146D with 187A at tips. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 146D with 187A at tips and base of NN155D.     Receptacle .—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: 155D.     Phyllaries .—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 36. Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff. Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards the peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Sparsely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A, innermost with an overlay of 187A. Color of lower surface: 137B, innermost with an overlay of 187A.     Receptacle spines .—Number of spines per disc: Approximately 200. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of 167B with an overlay and tip of 187A, mid-section of 146D, and base of NN155D.     Reproductive organs .—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: Closest to 199A. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament color: 155D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 187A. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: NN155D.       
       Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to  Echinacea  has not been observed.