Patent Publication Number: US-PP28824-P3

Title: Echinacea plant named ‘Apecssior’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Echinacea hybrida,    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘APECSSIOR’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant, botanically known as  Echinacea hybrida , and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Apecssior’. 
     The new  Echinacea  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Andijk and Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous  Echinacea  plants with unique and attractive ray floret coloration. 
     The new  Echinacea  plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2012 in Andijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of  Echinacea hybrida  identified as “selection A”, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Echinacea hybrida  identified as code number 1021-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Echinacea  plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands in August, 2013. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Echinacea  plant by tissue culture in a controlled environment in Andijk, The Netherlands since 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new  Echinacea  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Echinacea  have 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 ‘Apecssior’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Apecssior’ as a new and distinct  Echinacea  plant:
         1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.   3. Freely branching habit.   4. Strong flowering stems.   5. Numerous large single-type inflorescences with bright red-colored ray florets and dark orange-colored receptacle spines.   6. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Echinacea  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new  Echinacea  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Echinacea  are not as compact as plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Echinacea  and the female parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent selection have purple-colored ray florets.       

     Plants of the new  Echinacea  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new  Echinacea  differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Echinacea  are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Echinacea  and the male parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent selection have purple-colored ray florets.       

     Plants of the new  Echinacea  can be compared to plants of  Echinacea hybrida  ‘Hot Summer’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,687. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new  Echinacea  differ primarily from plants of ‘Hot Summer’ in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Echinacea  are not as compact as plants of ‘Hot Summer’.   2. Plants of the new  Echinacea  are more vigorous than plants of ‘Hot Summer’.   3. Plants of the new  Echinacea  and ‘Hot Summer’ differ in stem color as plants of ‘Hot Summer’ have green-colored stems.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Echinacea  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  Echinacea  plant. 
       The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Apecssior’ grown in a container. 
       The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph) of ‘Apecssior’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 17-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial  Echinacea  production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched eight weeks after planting and were six months 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:  Echinacea hybrida  ‘Apecssior’.   Parentage:
             Female parent .—Proprietary selection of  Echinacea hybrida  identified as “selection A”, not patented.     Male parent .—Proprietary selection of  Echinacea hybrida  identified as code number 1021-01, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—By tissue culture.     Time to initiate roots, summer .—About twelve days at temperatures about 20° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter .—About 16 days at temperatures about 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer .—About 36 days at temperatures about 18° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter .—About 42 days at temperatures about 18° C.     Root description .—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.     Rooting habit .—Moderately freely branching; sparse.       
       Plant description:
             Plant form and growth habit .—Herbaceous perennial; upright and relatively compact plant habit, narrow inverted triangle; freely basal branching habit with about twelve lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.     Plant height .—About 47.6 cm.     Plant diameter or spread .—About 33.3 cm.     Lateral branches .—Length: About 26.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 3.8 cm. Aspect: Erect to about 35° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Moderately to densely pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to between 152B and 195A; stems exposed to direct sunlight are tinged with close to 187C.       
       Leaf description:
             Arrangement .—Alternate, simple.     Length .—About 8.3 cm.     Width .—About 4.4 cm.     Shape .—Ovate.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Attenuate.     Margin .—Entire; slightly undulate.     Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces .—Moderately pubescent, strigose and rough; slightly glossy.     Venation pattern .—Pinnate.     Color .—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 137C and 138A; venation, close to 147B.     Petioles, basal leaves .—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color, upper surface: Center, close to 151A; towards the margins, close to N137A. Color, lower surface: Center, close to 144A; towards the margins, close to 137A.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Appearance .—Large single-type inflorescences with ray and disc florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences positioned upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright and strong peduncles.     Flowering habit .—Freely flowering habit with about 24 inflorescences per plant.     Fragrance .—Faintly; sweet, pleasant.     Time to flower .—Plants flower continuously from early July to late November in The Netherlands.     Inflorescence longevity .—Inflorescences maintain good substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.     Inflorescence buds .—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Darker than between N186C and 200A; ray florets, close to 187C.     Inflorescence size .—Diameter: About 7.6 cm. Depth (height): About 3.7 cm. Disc diameter: About 3.3 cm.     Receptacles .—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Color: Close to 155D.     Ray florets .—Quantity and arrangement: About 21 arranged in a single whorl at the base of the receptacle. Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Emarginate to praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous; velvety and matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous; moderately glossy. Aspect: Horizontal to slightly downward, about 20° from horizontal. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 44A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 53B to 53C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44B; towards the base, close to 42A; with development, color becoming closer to 28A and towards the base, close to between N34A and 42A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 53B; with development, color becoming closer to 53C.     Disc florets .—Quantity and arrangement: About 150 per inflorescence, arranged spirally at the center of the inflorescence. Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Tubular; proximally, 20% free, not fused. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 185A. Mid-section: Close to 144A. Base: Close to 144D. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to N199C. Mid-section: Close to 144A. Base: Close to 144C.     Receptacle spines .—Quantity: One per disc floret. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Apex: Proximally, close to N25A; distally, close to N34A. Mid-section: Close to 144B. Base: Close to 144C to 144D.     Involucral bracts .—Quantity per inflorescence: About 68 arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; dull. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A; towards the margins, close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A.     Peduncles .—Length: About 13.6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° from vertical. Texture: Moderately to densely pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to between 152B and 195A; peduncles exposed to direct sunlight are tinged with close to 187C.     Reproductive organs .—Androecium (present on ray and disc florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 197A and 202A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close to 187A. Style length: About 5.5 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 150D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Echinacea.          
       Disease &amp; pest resistance: Plants of the new  Echinacea  have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Echinacea  plants.   Garden performance: Plants of the new  Echinacea  have exhibited good garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new  Echinacea  have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4.