Patent Publication Number: US-PP30613-P3

Title: Hypoestes plant named ‘G14157’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Hypoestes phyllostachya.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘G14157’. 
     CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicants: Michael S. Uchneat &amp; Irene E. Palmer 
     Title:  Hypoestes  Plant Named ‘G14160’ 
     Filed: Concurrently with this application having U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,842 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Hypoestes  plant, botanically known as  Hypoestes phyllostachya  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G14157’. 
     The new  Hypoestes  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous  Hypoestes  plants with attractive leaves and high light tolerance. 
     The new  Hypoestes  plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of  Hypoestes phyllostachya , not patented. The new  Hypoestes  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors on a single plant within a population of plants of the mutation selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on Aug. 15, 2014. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Hypoestes  plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since Aug. 15, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new  Hypoestes  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Hypoestes  have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions 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 ‘G14157’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G14157’ as a new and distinct  Hypoestes  plant:
         1. Upright and mounding plant habit.   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely branching habit.   4. Large dark green and greyed purple bi-colored leaves.   5. Relatively tolerant to high light conditions.       

     Compared to plants of the mutation parent selection, plants of the new  Hypoestes  differ primarily in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  are more vigorous than and not as compact as plants of the mutation parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  have thicker leaves than plants of the mutation parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  are more tolerant to high light conditions than plants of the mutation parent selection.       

     Compared to plants of  Hypoestes phyllostachya  ‘G14160’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently, plants of the new  Hypoestes  differ primarily in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  are not as vigorous as plants of ‘G14160’.   2. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  are more freely branching than plants of ‘G14160’.   3. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  and ‘G14160’ differ in leaf color as plants of ‘G14160’ have dark green and red purple bi-colored leaves.       

     Plants of the new  Hypoestes  can also be compared to plants of  Hypoestes phyllostachya  ‘Splash Select Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Hypoestes  differ primarily from plants of ‘Splash Select Red’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  are more vigorous than and not as compact as plants of ‘Splash Select Red’.   2. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  have thicker leaves than plants of ‘Splash Select Red’.   3. Plants of the new  Hypoestes  are more tolerant to high light conditions than plants of ‘Splash Select Red’.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Hypoestes  plant 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  Hypoestes  plant. 
       The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘G14157’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘G14157’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial potted  Hypoestes  production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
     Botanical classification:  Hypoestes phyllostachya  ‘G14157’.   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of  Hypoestes phyllostachya , not patented.   Propagation:
             Type .—By terminal cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer .—About 7 to 10 days at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter .—About 10 to 14 days at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.     Time to produce a rooted plant, summer .—About three to four weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.     Time to produce a rooted plant, winter .—About four weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.     Root description .—Medium in thickness, fibrous; close to white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.     Rooting habit .—Freely branching; medium density.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit .—Upright and mounded plant form; freely branching habit with about three primary lateral branches each with about six to eight secondary lateral branches developing per plant; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     Plant height .—About 12.5 cm.     Plant diameter or spread .—About 22 cm.     Lateral branches .—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 15° to 20° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; sparse pubescence at nodes. Luster: Semi-glossy. Color: Developing, close to 146A; color becoming closer to 187A with subsequent development; at the nodes, close to 183B.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Opposite; simple.     Length .—About 8.7 cm.     Width .—About 6.7 cm.     Shape .—Broadly elliptic.     Apex .—Acute; reflexing.     Base .—Attenuate.     Margin .—Entire.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate, arcuate.     Texture, upper and lower surfaces .—Smooth, glabrous.     Luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Matte.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper surface: Ground color, close to 146B; interveinal areas, close to 187C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close to 146B; interveinal patches, close to N155C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Ground color, close to 139A; interveinal patches, close to 185A; venation, close to 187A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close to 146A to 146B; interveinal patches, close to 145D; venation, close to 187A.     Petioles .—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 187A.       
       Flower description: Flower initiation and development have not been observed on plants of the new  Hypoestes  to date.   Disease &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Hypoestes  have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Hypoestes  plants to date.   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new  Hypoestes  have been observed to tolerate low temperatures about 1.7° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11.