Patent Publication Number: US-PP21799-P2

Title: Sisyrinchium plant named ‘Sunsisicre’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Sisyrinchium atlanticum.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSISICRE’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Sisyrinchium  plant, botanically known as  Sisyrinchium atlanticum  and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsisicre’. 
     The new  Sisyrinchium  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely-flowering  Sisyrinchium  plants with attractive and unique flower coloration and long flowering period. 
     The new  Sisyrinchium  plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2002 of a proprietary selection of  Sisyrinchium atlanticum  identified as code number SC10, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Sisyrinchium atlanticum  identified as code number SC5, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Sisyrinchium  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in August, 2003. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Sisyrinchium  plant by divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new  Sisyrinchium  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  have 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 ‘Sunsisicre’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsisicre’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Sisyrinchium:  
         1. Compact and clumping plant habit.   2. Vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely flowering plant habit.   4. Long flowering period.   5. White-colored flowers with greyed purple-colored centers and venation.   6. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  are more freely flowering than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  flower for a longer period of time than plants of the female parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have yellow-colored flowers with purple-colored centers.       

     Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  are more freely flowering than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  flower for a longer period of time than plants of the male parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have ivory-colored flowers with purple-colored centers.       

     Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  can also be compared to plants of  Sisyrinchium californicum  ‘Yellow Stone’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  and ‘Yellow Stone’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  were more vigorous than plants of ‘Yellow Stone’.   2. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  had thinner but more branching stems than plants of ‘Yellow Stone’.   3 . Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  had smaller basal leaves than plants of ‘Yellow Stone’.   4. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  were more freely flowering than plants of ‘Yellow Stone’.   5. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  flowered earlier and for a longer period of time than plants of ‘Yellow Stone’.   6. Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  and ‘Yellow Stone’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Yellow Stone’ had yellow-colored flowers.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Sisyrinchium,  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  Sisyrinchium.    
       The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsisicre’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Sunsisicre’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the spring in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 10° C. Plants were twelve months old when the description and photographs 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:  Sisyrinchium atlanticum  ‘Sunsisicre’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent. —Proprietary selection of  Sisyrinchium atlanticum  identified as code number SC10, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent. —Proprietary selection of  Sisyrinchium atlanticum  identified as code number SC5, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type. —By divisions.     Time to initiate roots, summer. —About one week at 20° C. to 30° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter. —About two weeks at 10° C. to 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer. —About three weeks at 20° C. to 30° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter. —About four weeks at 10° C. to 20° C.     Root description. —Fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching; moderately dense.       
       Plant description:
             Plant and growth habit. —Compact and clumping plant habit; basally branching; vigorous growth habit.     Plant height. —About 25 cm.     Plant diameter. —About 46 cm.       
       Branch description:
             Length. —Primary branches, about 16.1 cm; secondary branches, about 12.4 cm.     Diameter. —Primary branches, about 1 mm; secondary branches, about 0.8 mm.     Strength. —Strong.     Aspect. —Upright to somewhat outwardly.     Texture. —Smooth, glabrous.     Color. —Close to 137B.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement. —Basal or cauline, simple; sessile.     Basal leaves. —Length: About 16.2 cm. Width: About 7 mm.     Upper, or stem, leaves. —Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 2.7 mm.     Shape, basal and stem leaves. —Lanceolate.     Apex, basal and stem leaves. —Acute.     Base, basal and stem leaves. —Sheathing.     Margin, basal and stem leaves. —Entire.     Texture, basal and stem leaves, upper and lower surfaces. —Smooth, glabrous.     Venation pattern, basal and stem leaves. —Parallel.     Color, basal and stem leaves. —Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C; venation, close to 138B.       
       Flower description:
             Flower arrangement and habit. —Five or six star-shaped flowers arranged in clusters; freely flowering habit with usually about 32 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright.     Fragrance. —None detected.     Natural flowering season. —Early flowering habit, plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  initiate and develop flowers about 13 weeks after planting; long flowering period, flowering commences naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously throughout the summer until autumn in Japan.     Flower longevity. —Individual flowers last about one day on the plant; flowers persistent.     Flower cluster height. —About 7.3 cm.     Flower cluster diameter. —About 2.4 cm.     Flower diameter. —About 2.1 cm.     Flower length  ( depth ).—About 1 cm.     Flower bud. —Shape: Oblong. Length: About 8.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Color: Close to 155A.     Corolla. —Arrangement: Six segments in a single whorl fused at the base. Segment length from throat: About 9.4 mm. Segment width: About 5.3 mm. Segment shape: Ovate. Segment apex: Cuspidate. Segment margin: Entire. Segment texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Segment color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; towards the center, close to N187A; venation, close to N187B; center, close to 7A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155A; towards the base, close to 6B; venation, close to N187A.     Spathe bracts. —Quantity: Two per flower. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2.9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C.     Pedicels. —Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong, wiry. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145A.     Reproductive organs. —Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Three per flower; fused. Stamen length: About 1.2 mm. Anther shape: Globose. Anther size: About 0.4 mm by 0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 2.8 mm. Style color: Close to 153D. Stigma shape: Trifid. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 137C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Sisyrinchium.          
       Garden performance: Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about −5° C. to about 35° C.   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Sisyrinchium  have not been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to  Sisyrinchium.