Patent Publication Number: US-PP15789-P2

Title: Begonia plant named ‘Bbnes’

Description:
Botanical classification/cultivar designation:  Begonia×hiemalis  cultivar Bbnes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant, botanically known as  Begonia×hiemalis,  commercially known as Elatior  Begonia , and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbnes’. 
   The new  Begonia  was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark in April, 1999, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of  Begonia×hiemalis  ‘Batik’, not patented. The new  Begonia  was observed as a single plant in a group of flowering plants of the parent cultivar. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new  Begonia  by cuttings in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark since 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new  Begonia  are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The cultivar ‘Bbnes’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength 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 ‘Bbnes’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bbnes’ as a new and distinct  Begonia:  
         1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.   2. Double flowers with yellow and orange bi-colored tepals.   3. Excellent flower longevity.       

   Plants of the new  Begonia  are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Batik. Plants of the new  Begonia  differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Batik in flower color as tepals of plants of the cultivar Bbnes are yellow and orange bi-colored whereas tepals of plants of the cultivar Batik are orange in color. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
     The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new  Begonia , 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  Begonia.    
     The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bbnes’. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer, and grown under conditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 15 to 20° C., and light levels were about 18,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and the description were grown in 13-cm containers and were about three months old when the photograph and description were taken.
     Botanical classification:  Begonia×hiemalis  cultivar Bbnes.   Commercial classification: Elatior  Begonia.      Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of  Begonia×hiemalis  cultivar Batik, not patented.   Propagation:
             Type.— By cuttings.     Time to initiate roots.— About two weeks at temperatures of 20° C.     Time to develop roots.— About five weeks at temperatures of 20° C.     Root description.— Fine, fibrous and well-branched. Plants of the new  Begonia  have not been observed to form tubers.       
       Plant description:
             Plant form and habit.— Compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching with about five or six basal branches per plant. Moderately vigorous. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.     Plant height.— About 20 cm.     Plant width.— About 20 to 25 cm.     Leaves.— Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 9 cm. Width: About 6 to 7 cm. Shape: Ovate; asymmetrical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Oblique. Margin: Doubly crenate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; leathery. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Venation, upper surface: Close to 137A. Venation, lower surface: Close to 137C. Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A. Stipule quantity: Two per leaf. Stipule size: About 1 cm by 1 cm. Stipule texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C.       
       Flower description:
             Flowering habit.— Double flowers with about 10 to 12 tepals per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes. Numerous cymes in flower simultaneously; about 25 to 30 open flowers per plant. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage. Flowers not fragrant.     Natural flowering season.— Under natural daylight conditions, plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation and development is induced by long day/short night conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive conditions.     Flower longevity.— Individual flowers last about four to five weeks on the plant.     Flowers.— Shape: Oval; double. Orientation: Flat to cupped. Diameter: About 4 to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.     Flower buds.— Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm. Color: Close to 19C.     Tepals.— Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Obovate to rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 30C. When opening, lower surface: 19C. Fully opened, upper surface: 16A; towards the margins, 30C. Fully opened, lower surface: 19C.     Flower bracts.— Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement: Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146D.     Peduncles.— Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length: About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D.     Pedicels.— Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D.     Reproductive organs.— Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.     Seed/fruit.— Seed and fruit production has not been observed as reproductive organs are not formed.       
       Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Begonia  have been observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new  Begonia  have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to  Begonia.