Patent Publication Number: US-2019200500-P1

Title: Thuja Occidentalis Plant Named Triple G Tree

Description:
Botanical designation:  Thuja occidentalis  cultivar Triple G. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Thuja  plant, botanically known as  Thuja occidentalis  L. var.  pyramidalis  (Zederb.), commonly known as arborvitae or the “Green Giant”, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Triple G’. 
     The new  Thuja  plant was discovered by the inventors in a commercial stand of  Thuja occidenalis  in a nursery in Lenoir, N.C. Cuttings were prepared and continued asexual reproduction has shown that the unique features of the new  Thuja  cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cultivar Triple G maintains its bright green color throughout the year and does not bronze like typical  Thuja occidentalis  cultivars or other arborvitae in colder weather. The Triple G cultivar extends branching more compactly relative the  Thuja occidentalis  and requires less trimming. The Triple G further displays a less acute axil between its needles and surculi comprising its fascicles, and likewise between its surculi and branchlets, resulting in a more curved habit, tightly spaced phyllotaxis pattern, and an overall more piriform appearance. In more mature specimens, the Triple G cultivar&#39;s crown is less elongate than other  Thuja  cultivars. It&#39;s maximum height at maturity is generally less than 10 meters. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This new variety of the  Thuja  tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a photographic print in full color showing the form of the mature Triple G tree at ten years of age. 
         FIG. 2  is a photographic print in full color showing a branchlet of the Triple G (left) adjacent a branchlet of a typical  Thuja  variety (right). 
         FIG. 3  is a photographic print in full color showing a seedling of the Triple G (left) relative a seedling of a typical  Thuja  variety (right). 
         FIG. 4  is a photographic print in full color showing the form of a mature Triple G tree (right) adjacent a mature specimen of the typical  Thuja  variety. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are believed to be characteristics of the Triple G cultivar. The below observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in North Carolina and distinguish this arborvitae as a new and distinct cultivar.
     Type: Native, perennial conifer tree of the Cupressaceae family.   Appearance: Grows to a maximum height of 7 to 10 meters at maturity. The crown is narrowly conic and less pyramidal than other  Thuja  cultivars. Densely crowded branches with flattened branchlets are slightly curled into tautly arrayed, fan-shaped sprays.   Origin: Propagated from cuttings collected from a variant specimen discovered in a commercial stand of  Thuja occidental  L. in Lenoir, N.C.   Parentage: Variant cultivar discovered in a cultivated area.   Classification:  Thuja occidentalis  L. cultivar Triple G.   Height: Shorter and more compact that other  Thuja occidentalis  cultivars. Maximum height at maturity tops out under 10 meters.   Leaves: Small flattened, green twigs bearing paired, evergreen, scale-like decussate leaves, approximately 2 to 3 mm long and abruptly pointed. Tips are blunt to sharply pointed and slanted toward the sprout. Surface leaves have a broad keel that narrows sharply at the tip. Marginal leaves scaffold pressed against the flanks of the surface leaves or the keels of the next higher marginal leaves.   Branchlets: Flattened, bright green on the upper side and pale green on the base. Perceptibly lighter green than other  Thuja  cultivars, and slightly curled. Do not turn yellow-brown in winter like other  Thuja  cultivars.   Odor: Camphoraceous.   Bark: Gray to reddish-brown, 6 to 9 mm thick, fibrous, separated into flat, connected ridges.   Seeds: Seed cones are ellipsoid 6 to 14 mm long, brown. Seeds ca. 8 per cone, 4 to 7 mm long, with lateral wings about as wide as the body.   

     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Group 
                 Constituents 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Essential oil 
                 Borneol 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Camphene 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fenchone 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Limonene 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Myricene 
               
               
                   
                   
                 α-Terpine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Terpinolene 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Thujone (0.76-2.4% of essential oil, 85% α-thujone, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 15% β-thujone) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Thujylalcohol 
               
               
                   
                 Coumarins 
                 p-Coumaric acid 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Umbelliferone 
               
               
                   
                 Flavonoids 
                 (+/−)-Catechine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (−)-Gallocatechine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Kaempherol 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Kaempherol-3-O-α-rhamnoside 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mearnsitrin 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Myricetine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Myricitrin 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Procyanidin B-3 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Prodelphinidin 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Quercetin 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Quercitirin 
               
               
                   
                 Other 
                 Tannic acid 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Thuja polysaccharides and proteins 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Source: “ Thuja occidentalis  (Arbor vitae): A review of its Pharmaceutical, Pharmacological and Clinical Properties” by Naser et al. Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine, pp. 69-78 (Mar, 2005).