Patent Publication Number: US-PP20259-P2

Title: Viola plant named ‘Sunviopapu’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Viola cornuta.    
   Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunviopapu’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Viola,  botanically known as  Viola cornuta  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunviopapu’. 
   The new  Viola  is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact  Viola  cultivars with attractive flower coloration. 
   The new  Viola  originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2001, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selection of  Viola cornuta  identified as code number 0V-41-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Viola cornuta  identified as code number 9V-38, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Viola  was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new  Viola  by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new  Viola  are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The cultivar Sunviopapu has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices 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 ‘Sunviopapu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunviopapu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Viola:  
         1. Compact and mounding plant habit.   2. Freely branching habit.   3. Freely flowering habit.   4. Dark violet-colored flowers.       

   Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new  Viola  are smaller and have larger flowers. In addition, plants of the new  Viola  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers. Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new  Viola  have larger flowers. In addition, plants of the new  Viola  and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pale yellow-colored flowers. 
   Plants of the new  Viola  can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunviobuho, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,557. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new  Viola  and the cultivar Sunviobuho differed in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Viola  were smaller than plants of the cultivar Sunviobuho.   2. Plants of the new  Viola  had shorter lateral branches and peduncles than plants of the cultivar Sunviobuho.   3. Plants of the new  Viola  had shorter leaves than plants of the cultivar Sunviobuho.   4. Plants of the new  Viola  had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Sunviobuho.   5. Plants of the new  Viola  and the cultivar Sunviobuho differed in flower color.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Viola,  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  Viola.    
     The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunviopapu’ grown in a container. 
     The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunviopapu’. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the winter in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 23° C. and night temperatures ranging from −2° C. to 6° C. Plants had been growing for about five months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Viola cornuta  cultivar Sunviopapu.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent.— Proprietary selection of  Viola cornuta  identified as code number 0V-41-1, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent.— Proprietary selection of  Viola cornuta  identified as code number 9V-38, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type.— By vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots.— About two weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.— About four weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.     Root description.— Fine, fibrous and fleshy; light brown in color.     Rooting habit.— Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Plant form/habit.— Compact and mounded plant habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit; pinching enhances branching.     Plant height.— About 11.4 cm.     Plant width  ( spread ).—About 26.6 cm.     Lateral branches.— Length: About 8.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144C.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement.— Alternate, simple.     Length.— About 1.8 cm.     Width.— About 1.5 cm.     Shape.— Elliptic.     Apex.— Obtuse to rounded.     Base.— Truncate.     Margin.— Crenate.     Texture, upper and lower surfaces.— Smooth, glabrous.     Venation pattern.— Pinnate; reticulate.     Color.— Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 137B; venation, 144D. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 146B; venation, 144D.     Petiole.— Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 0.7 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.     Stipule.— Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Pinnately-parted. Apex: Obtuse to rounded. Base: Obtuse. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: 137B. Color, lower surface: 146B.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type/habit.— Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils; flowers face obliquely upright. Freely flowering habit with about 53 open flowers per plant.     Fragrance.— None detected.     Natural flowering season.— Continuously flowering from early November to June in Japan. Flowers not persistent.     Postproduction longevity.— Flowers last about five to seven days on the plant.     Flower buds.— Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 mm. Shape: Lenticular. Color: N92D.     Flower diameter.— About 4.3 cm by 3.4 cm.     Flower depth.— About 1.5 cm.     Eye diameter.— About 1.8 mm by 3.3 mm.     Petals.— Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl; one upper petal, two lateral petals and lower two petals fused and spurred. Upper petal: Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex and attenuate base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface: 83A. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: 83A. Lateral petals: Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex and attenuate base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface: 83A; venation, N92D. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: N88A. Lower fused petals: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Reniform with cordate apex and attenuate base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 83A; venation, N92D; eye, 21B. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: N88A. Spur length: About 6 mm. Spur diameter: About 1 mm. Spur color: 94B.     Sepals.— Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4.3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.     Peduncles.— Length: About 7.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.     Reproductive organs.— Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.3 mm by 1.2 mm. Anther color: 10D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: 153D. Style color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: 144D.     Seed/fruit.— Seed and fruit development have not been observed.       
       Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Viola  have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Viola.      Garden performance: Plants of the new  Viola  have been observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and temperatures from about −7° C. to about 25° C.