Patent Publication Number: US-PP17699-P3

Title: Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunny Marina’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.    
   Variety denomination: ‘Sunny Marina’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant, botanically known as  Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.,  commonly known as Cape Daisy, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘Sunny Marina’. 
   The new  Osteospermum  is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Bjarne Larsen, in Stige, Odense, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new  Osteospermum  variety with upright plant habit, compact growth habit, interesting inflorescence color, and good keeping quality. 
   The new  Osteospermum  originated from a planned crossing of two  Osteospermum  selected parent plants made by the inventor in 2002 in Stige, Odense, Denmark. The female or seed parent is an  Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.  cultivar designated ‘90.024.00’ (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is an  Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.  cultivar designated ‘999’ (unpatented). The new  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ was selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above crossing in 2003 in a controlled environment in Stige, Odense, Denmark. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new  Osteospermum  cultivar by apical stem cuttings was first performed in February of 2003 in Stige, Odense, Denmark, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Marina’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunny Marina’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
         1. Single, daisy type composite inflorescences with elliptic (flat, lanceolate) ray florets and tubular disc florets;   2. Violet to light purple disc florets and light purple ray florets with gray-orange undersides;   3. Dark green to yellow-green, small and narrow leaves;   4. Ovate to spatulate leaves with 6-8 small, acute lobes; and   5. Short peduncles and compact bush plant shape.       

   Plants of the parental cultivars, ‘90.024.00’ (unpatented) and ‘999’ (unpatented) are unavailable to provide a detailed botanical comparison to plants of the new cultivar ‘Sunny’. 
   Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ is  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Silvia’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,354). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stige, Denmark, plants of ‘Sunny Marina’ differed from plants of ‘Sunny Silvia’ in the characteristics described in Table 1: 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
           
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
                 
                 
               Comparison Cultivar 
             
             
                 
               New Cultivar 
               ‘Sunny Silvia’ 
             
             
               Trait 
               ‘Sunny Marina’ 
               (patented, PP10,354) 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
               Plant height 
               About 20 cm 
               About 32 cm 
             
             
               Plant diameter 
               About 21 cm 
               About 48 cm 
             
             
               Number of Lateral 
               Primary: 4 
               Primary: 6 
             
             
               Branches 
               Secondary: 17 
               Secondary: 25 
             
             
                 
               (flowering) 
             
             
               Lateral Branch 
               Primary: 3 cm 
               Primary: 33 cm 
             
             
               Length 
               Secondary: 12-14 cm (incl. 
               Secondary: 9-12 cm 
             
             
                 
               inflorescence) 
             
             
               Lateral Branch 
               4-5 mm 
               6-7 mm 
             
             
               Diameter 
             
             
               Internode Length 
               About 30 mm 
               15-29 mm 
             
             
               Shape of Leaves 
               Ovate to spatulate, 
               Obovate, sinuate with 
             
             
                 
               6-8 acute lobes 
               3-6 pointed lobes 
             
             
               Apex Shape 
               Subacute 
               Acuminate 
             
             
               of Leaves 
             
             
               Size of Leaves 
               Length: 3-4 cm 
               Length: About 9 cm 
             
             
                 
               Width: 1-3 cm 
               Width: About 3.5 cm 
             
             
               Mature Leaf 
               Upper side: 
               Upper side: 
             
             
               Color 
               RHS 139B 
               RHS 147A 
             
             
                 
               Under side: 
               Under side: 
             
             
                 
               RHS 147C 
               RHS 147A 
             
             
               Venation Pattern 
               Brochidodromus, form 
               Palmate 
             
             
                 
               of pinnate 
             
             
               Petiole Length 
               10-20 mm 
               35 mm 
             
             
               Inflorescence 
               About 7 cm 
               9 cm 
             
             
               Diameter 
             
             
               Bud Color 
               From yellow-green, 
               Yellow-green, 
             
             
                 
               RHS 144A 
               RHS 154A 
             
             
                 
               (base) to RHS 79A 
             
             
                 
               purple (apex) 
             
             
               Ray Floret Color 
               Upper side: 
               Upper side: 
             
             
               (fully opened) 
               Light purple 
               Purple, RHS 
             
             
                 
               RHS 75C (apex) 
               78B to white, 
             
             
                 
               with RHS 76D 
               RHS 155A on 
             
             
                 
               (base) 
               the sides 
             
             
                 
               Under side: 
               Under side: 
             
             
                 
               Gray-orange, 
               Light violet, 
             
             
                 
               RHS 174A, with 
               RHS 84D with 
             
             
                 
               longitudinal stripes 
               stripes of RHS 
             
             
                 
               of RHS N170D 
               84A 
             
             
               Ray Floret Color 
               No fading; 
               Fading to nearly white 
             
             
               Fading 
               withering 
               at proximal end 
             
             
               Peduncle Length 
               About 5-10 cm 
               About 19 cm 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with 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 color of the new  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting. 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top and bottom view of typical inflorescence of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting. 
       FIG. 4  shows a dissected view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting. 
       FIG. 5  shows a top and bottom view of the leaves of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   Then new  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day-length, without any change in the genotype of the plant. 
   The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new  Osteospermum  cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ as grown in a greenhouse in Stige, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Vegetative propagation with apical tip cuttings (4-5 leaves) took place in a greenhouse with propagation tents for 3 weeks with the day and night temperature averaging about 20° C. The temperature was then lowered to the day and night temperature averaging about 14° C. The plants were subirrigated with a nutrient solution of 2-3 mS when needed and given supplementary irradiation with SON T lamps having an installed energy level of 400 Wm 2 . 
   Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 4 th  edition 2000, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the spring when outdoor day temperatures ranged from 7° C. to 15° C. and outdoor night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 8° C. The age of the plants described is 20 weeks.
     Botanical classification:  Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.      Parentage:
             Female or seed parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.  designated ‘90.024.00’ (unpatented).     Male or pollen parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis  ( DC )  T. Norl.  designated ‘999’ (unpatented).       
       Propagation:
             Type. —Apical stem cutting.     Time and temperature to initiate roots. —Summer: About 12 to 14 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse. Winter: About 17 to 20 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.     Time and temperature to develop roots. —Summer: About 14 to 18 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse. Winter: About 20 to 22 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.     Rooting description.— 100% rooting.     Rooting habit. —Fine, fibrous and branching.     Root color. —White, RHS 155B.       
       Plant description:
             General appearance and form. —Perennial plant with upright, inverse conical plant habit and used as a potted or bedding plant. Basal branching and pinching required.  Osteospermum  inflorescences in composite heads, daisy type.     Growth and branching habit. —Freely branching with lateral flowering branches forming at every node; dense and bushy.     Growth rate/vigor. —Vigorous.     Plant height  ( soil level to top of plant plane ).—About 20 cm.     Plant width  ( spread ).—About 21 cm, Range: 20-22 cm.     Plant strength. —Low temperature tolerance to +1° C. High temperature tolerance: Not tested over. 30° C., but flowering ceases over 28° C.     Crop time to produce a mature flowering plant. —After rooting, about 20 weeks are required to produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.       
       Branches:
             Number of branches per plant.— 4 primary, 17 secondary.     Length. —Primary: About 3 cm, Secondary: 12-14 cm (including inflorescence).     Diameter. —About 4-5 mm.     Internode length. —About 30 mm.     Strength. —Strong.     Aspect. —Upright, branches at 70° angle.     Texture. —Glabrous.     Color. —RHS 144C, yellow-green.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement. —Alternate (5 whorl), single, lobed, ovate to lanceolate.     Quantity of leaves per lateral branch. —About 15-18.     Length. —About 3-4 cm.     Width. —About 1-3 cm.     Overall shape of leaf. —Ovate to spatulate, 6-8 acute lobes.     Shape at apex. —Mature leaf: Subacute. Young leaf: Acute.     Shape at base. —Attenuate to decussate.     Margin. —Lobed (6-8 small, triangular lobes).     Texture. —Matte, scattered, short stiff hairs along veins and edges.     Color of developing foliage. —Upper surface: RHS 137B, green. Lower surface: RHS 138B, green.     Color of mature foliage. —Upper surface: RHS 139B, green. Lower surface: RHS 147C, yellow-green.     Venation pattern. —Brochidodromus, form of pinnate.     Venation color. —Only central vein discernible from leaf color: RHS 147C.     Petiole length. —About 10-20 mm.     Petiole diameter. —About 2-4 mm (flat, winged).     Petiole texture. —Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Hirsute with scattered stiff hairs.     Petiole color. —Upper surface: RHS 144A, yellow-green. Lower surface: RHS 145B, yellow-green.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Appearance. —Terminal and axillary inflorescences held above and beyond the foliage. Single, composite inflorescence form, radially symmetrical, with flat, lanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets massed at the center; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences face upright with aspect of 80° C.     Natural flowering season. —Continuous throughout the spring and summer in temperate regions. Season can be extended by vernalization and long day treatments. Flowering may cease if temperatures exceed 28° C.     Time to flower.— 5 to 11 days (longevity of individual inflorescences is dependent on temperature and light conditions).     Postproduction longevity. —Inflorescences maintain good color and substance for about 14 days on the plant when grown in an outdoor environment. Inflorescences persistent, but wither to insignificance.     Quantity. —Freely flowering; more than 25 open inflorescences and inflorescence buds per plant.     Fragrance. —Flowers have a weak, fresh lemon scent.       
       Bud:
             Rate of opening  ( from showing color to fully open inflorescence ).—4 to 5 days.     Quantity of buds per lateral stem. —About 8.     Length. —About 0-12 mm at color showing.     Diameter. —About 0-10 mm.     Shape. —Globular until color, then ovoid.     Color. —From RHS 144A, yellow-green (base) to RHS 79A, purple (apex).       
       Peduncle:
             Length. —Terminal: About 10 cm. Secondary: About 6 cm. Tertiary: About 5 cm.     Diameter. —About 2 mm.     Appearance and angle. —Terminal: Erect. Secondary: About 10 to 25 degrees from vertical. Tertiary: About 30 to 45 degrees from vertical.     Strength. —Strong.     Texture. —Glabrous.     Color. —RHS 144C, yellow-green.       
       Inflorescence:
             Inflorescence depth  ( height ).—About 6 mm.     Inflorescence diameter. —About 7 cm.     Receptacle diameter. —About 2 cm.     Receptacle height. —About ½ cm.     Receptacle shape. —Semiglobular.     Receptacle color. —RHS 145B, yellow-green.       
       Ray florets:
             Quantity per inflorescence. —Typical number: 21. Observed number: 19-24.     Length. —About 32 mm, Range: 30-34 mm.     Width. —About 8 mm.     Overall shape. —Elliptic (flat, lanceolate).     Shape at apex. —Acute, slightly retuse.     Shape at base. —Attenuate.     Margin. —Entire.     Texture. —Upper surface: Silky. Lower surface: Smooth.     Orientation. —Initially 45 degrees from vertical, with development, close to 80 degrees from vertical.     Color  ( when opening ).—Upper surface: Apex, RHS 75C, light purple fading to RHS 76D at base. Lower surface: RHS 174A, gray-orange, with stripes of RHS 174D.     Color  ( when fully opened ).—Upper surface: Apex, RHS 75C, light purple fading to RHS 76D at base. Lower surface: RHS 174A, gray-orange with stripes of RHS 170D.       
       Disc florets:
             Quantity per inflorescence. —Typical number: 80. Observed number: 68-90.     Length. —About 7-8 mm.     Width. —At apex: About 3 mm. At base: About 1 mm.     Disc area diameter. —About 14 mm.     Overall shape. —Tubular.     Shape at apex. —Star.     Shape at base. —Tube.     Margin. —Entire.     Texture. —Shiny, translucent.     Color  ( when opening ).—Upper side: Apex, RHS 83B, violet, to RHS 76D, light purple (base). Under side: RHS 76D, light purple.     Color  ( fully opened ).—Apex, RHS N186B, gray-purple.       
       Phyllaries:
             Quantity per inflorescence. —About 18 in a single whorl.     Length. —About 6-12 mm.     Width. —About 1-3 mm.     Overall shape. —Lanceolate.     Shape at apex. —Acuminate.     Shape at base. —Fused.     Margin. —Entire.     Texture. —Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Slightly hirsute.     Color. —Upper surface: RHS 144C, yellow-green, translucent. Lower surface: RHS 144A, yellow-green.       
       Reproductive organs:   Androecium: On disc florets only.
             Stamen number.— 5 per floret; fused around style.     Stamen length. —About 6 mm.     Anther shape. —Linear.     Anther length. —About 2 mm.     Anther color. —RHS 79B, purple.     Pollen amount. —Abundant.     Pollen color. —RHS N25A, orange.       
       Gynoecium: On ray and disc florets.
             Quantity.— 1 per floret.     Pistil length. —About 4 mm.     Stigma shape. —Brush-like.     Stigma color. —RHS N187A, purple.     Style length. —About 2 mm.     Style color. —RHS N155D, white.     Ovary color. —RHS 2D, green-yellow.       
       Seed: None observed at this stage of development.   Fruit: None observed.   Disease/pest resistance: Good.   Disease/pest susceptibility: No pests or diseases observed.   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new  Osteospermum  have exhibited good tolerance to draught, rain and wind; however, flowering may cease during hot periods (temperatures above 28° C.). Low temperature tolerance to 1° C.   Growth retardant(s): 3 times 0.2% Chlormequat drench during production.