Patent Publication Number: US-6866-P

Title: Alstroemeria named Zelpado

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
     This new Alstroemeria cultivar originated as a seedling of unknown parentage discovered among my collection of Alstroemeria varieties maintained in greenhouse at De Kwakel, Holland, for developmental purposes. This particular seedling was selected by me because of the striking, substantially overall coloration of its blooms, its profuse production of flowers the year around, and its apparent very fast and vigorous growth habit. I reproduced this seedling at De Kwakel, by root division, through several successive generations and thereby found that the novel and distinctive characteristics of flower coloration and growth habit of the new plant would remain true from generation to generation and appeared to be firmly fixed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     This new Alstroemeria cultivar is illustrated by the accompanying full color photographic drawing, which shows a portion of a full umbel of the inflorescence with flowers in full bloom, the color rendition being as nearly true to those specified herein as is reasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT 
     The following is a detailed description of my new Alstroemeria cultivar as observed in greenhouse at De Kwakel, Holland, with the color designations being according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England. 
     THE PLANT 
     Origin: Seedling. 
     Parentage: Unknown. 
     Classification: Alstroemeria Hybrid. 
     Form: Erect bush. 
     Height: About 200 cm. 
     Main stem length.--150 to 200 cm., depending upon season. 
     Growth: Vigorous, strong and upright. 
     Rootstock: Tuberous with many buds producing flower stalks in various stages of development during the course of the year. 
     Branching: Each flower stalk branches at its top to form an umbel of flower bearing stems. 
     Foliage: 
     Quantity.--Medium. 
     Leaf size.--Depending on season. 
     Leaf shape.--Elliptic with entire margins. 
     Texture.--Leathery. 
     Color.--Middle green; sometimes showing a little anthocyanine. 
     THE BUD 
     Form: Pear shaped. 
     Size: Medium. 
     Diameter.--About 2 cm. 
     Length.--About 4 cm. 
     Opening rate: Normal. 
     Calyx: Long pointed and rarely splitting. 
     THE FLOWER 
     Blooming habit: Continuous the year around. 
     Flower size: Medium. 
     Diameter.--About 6 to 6.5 cm. 
     Depth.--About 4.5 cm. 
     Borne: Singly on an umbel stem. 
     Shape: When mature, it is funnel-like with the petal tips curling outward. 
     Petalage: 
     Number of petals.--Six. 
     Arrangement.--Two concentric groups each of three petals. 
     Form.--Ovate with obcordate apex. 
     Texture.--Leathery. 
     Aspect.--Velvety. 
     Color.--Outer petals: Body -- 71 A-B overall with a few longitudinal pencil stripes at the tip margins. Reverse side -- 71 A-B. Inside petals: The upper petals have a solid white coloration (155 D) at the inner half of the petal body with 71 A-B over the outer half of the upper petals and over the entire body of the lower one of the inside petals. Reverse side -- Same as the upper side. 
     Peduncle: 
     Length.--About 2 cm. 
     Color.--Middle green. 
     Persistence: The flower petals hang on and dry. 
     Lasting quality: 
     On the plant.--About 21 days. 
     As a cut flower.--About 14 days. 
     THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
     Stamens: 
     Number.--Six. 
     Arrangement.--One opposite each petal. 
     Anthers.--Size: About 0.8 cm. Color: Grey-Brown. 
     Filaments.--Length: About 5 cm. Color: Pink. 
     Pollen.--Color: Blue-Grey. 
     Pistils: 
     Number:--One. 
     Style.--Length: Varies with age. Color: Dark Pink-Purple. 
     Stigma.--Color: Purple.