Patent Publication Number: US-PP14357-P2

Title: Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zanfier’

Description:
Botanical classification/cultivar designation:  Alstroemeria hybrida  cultivar ‘Zanfier’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as  Alstroemeria hybrida,  commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zanfier’. 
     The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with strong plant growth, attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity. 
     The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross made by the Inventor in April, 1994 in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, of a proprietary  Alstroemeria hybrida  selection identified as 50384-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary  Alstroemeria hybrida  selection identified as 91472-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands in May, 1995. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions taken in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, since 1995, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the cultivar Zanfier have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment 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 ‘Zanfier’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zanfier’ as a new and distinct cultivar: 
     1. Erect flowering stems. 
     2. Pink, red and white-colored flowers with dark purple-colored spots and stripes. 
     3. Excellent postproduction longevity. 
     Plants of the new Alstroemeria are most similar to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent in flower coloration as plants of the female parent have lighter pink-colored flowers. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are similar to plants of the male parent in flower coloration however plants of the new Alstroemeria have thicker flowering stems than plants of the male parent. 
     Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the cultivar Flamengo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,382. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Flamengo in flower color as plants of the cultivar Flamengo had lighter pink-colored flowers and had dark purple spots and stripes on the outer perianth segments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
     The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowers of ‘Zanfier’. 
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C., soil temperatures of 14° C. and light levels were about 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about 12 months from planting root divisions. The photograph and the description were taken during March and April, 2002. 
     Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. 
     Botanical classification:  Alstroemeria hybrida  cultivar Zanfier. 
     Parentage: 
       Female parent.— Proprietary  Alstroemeria hybrida  selection identified as 50384-2, not patented. 
       Male parent.— Proprietary selection of  Alstroemeria hybrida  identified as 91472-1, not patented. 
     Propagation: 
       Type.— By root divisions. 
       Root description.— Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to 155D, in color. 
       Rooting habit.— Freely branching. 
       Rhizomes.— Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to 30 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 to 1 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to 155D. 
     Plant description: 
       Plant habit.— Upright; freely basal branching, bushy appearance. 
       Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.— About 104 to 110 days. 
       Number of flowering stems produced per year.— About 184 to 220. 
       Plant height.— About 80 to 124 cm. 
       Plant diameter  ( spread ).—About 25 to 30 cm. 
       Flowering stem description.— Aspect: Erect. Length: About 100 cm. Diameter: About 4.75 to 10 mm. Internode length: About 3 to 6 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A to 144B. 
       Foliage description.— Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length: About 13 to 16 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Young and fully developed foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; glossy. Young and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 137B. Venation: Upper surface, close to 137A; lower surface, close to 137B. 
     Flower description: 
       Flower type and habit.— Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent. 
       Natural flowering season.— Flowering continuous during the spring in The Netherlands. 
       Fragrance.— None detected. 
       Flower longevity on the plant.— About four weeks. 
       Flower longevity as a cut flower.— About 15 to 20 days. 
       Flower buds  ( showing color ).—Length: About 2.5 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color: Close to 51A. 
       Umbel height.— About 10 to 15 cm. 
       Umbel diameter.— About 15 to 20 cm. 
       Number of flowers per umbel.— About 3 to 20. 
       Flower height  ( length ).—7 to 8 cm. 
       Flower diameter.— About 8 to 10 cm. 
       Flower depth.— About 7 to 8 cm. 
       Perianth.— Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size: Inner perianth: Length: Laterals, about 7 to 8 cm; median, 6 to 7 cm. Width: Laterals, about 2 to 2.5 cm; median, about 2.7 to 2.9 cm. Outer perianth: Length, laterals and median: About 7 to 8 cm. Width: Laterals, about 4.5 to 5 cm; median, about 4 to 5 cm. Shape: Inner perianth, all segments: Oblanceolate. Outer perianth, all segments: Obovate. Apex: Inner perianth, all segments: Acute. Outer perianth, all segments: Bracket-shaped. Base, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Attenuate. Margin, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Inner perianth: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Laterals: Towards apex, close to 55C; central upper splotch, close to 51A; mid-section and base, close to 155A; central area towards base, close to 5C; spots and stripes, close to 187A. Median: Ground color, close to 55B; central area, close to 51A; spots and stripes, close to 187A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Laterals: Towards apex, close to 55B; mid-section, close to 5C; towards base, close to 55D. Median: Ground color, close to 55B; central area, close to 51A. Outer perianth, when opening and fully opened, upper and lower surfaces, laterals and median: Ground color, close to 55B; central splotch, close to 51A; at apex, close to 146A. 
       Pedicels.— Length: About 1 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 30 to 60° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A. 
       Reproductive organs.— Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six. Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 195A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 185A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 4 to 5 cm. Stigma color: Pink. Ovary color: Close to 144A. 
       Fruit.— Shape: Globular. Color: Brown. 
     Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Alstroemerias. 
     Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been observed to tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C.