Patent Publication Number: US-PP32202-P2

Title: Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG19411’

Description:
Genus and species:  Dianthus  sp. 
     Variety denomination: ‘KLEDG19411’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
     The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of  Dianthus , botanically known as  Dianthus  sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDG19411’. ‘KLEDG19411’ originated from a spontaneous whole plant mutation in a greenhouse of the commercial variety ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707) found in May 2016 in Japan. 
     In September 2016, ‘KLEDG19411’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart Germany. ‘KLEDG19411’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Latina, Italy via vegetative stem cuttings. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.
         1. Pink flowers with a red-purple border;   2. Very early flowering; and   3. An upright habit.       

    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       This new  Dianthus  plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant approximately 5 months old and grown in a plastic greenhouse in Latina, Italy. The photographs were taken in March 2019. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. 
         FIG. 1  shows the whole plant grown in a pot. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close up image of the flowers, buds, and foliage of the plant. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
     The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDG19411’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected in March 2019 on 5 month old plants propagated and grown in a plastic greenhouse under cold conditions. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5 th  edition (2007).
     Classification:
             Family .—Caryophyllaceae.     Botanical.—Dianthus  sp.     Common .—Perennial carnation.     Designation .—‘KLEDG19411’.       
       Parentage: Spontaneous whole plant mutation of ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707).   Plant:
             Plant form .—Upright.     Plant height.— 6.0 cm to 8.0 cm.     Plant diameter or spread.— 12.0 cm to 15.0 cm.     Propagation type .—Vegetative cuttings, stem cutting.     Time to produce a rooted young plant.— 10 to 14 days.     Root description .—White and fine.     Rooting habit  ( shape ).—Lanceolate.       
       Lateral branches:
             Number of lateral branches per plant.— 2 to 5.     Strength .—Moderate to strong.     Length.— 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm.     Diameter.— 1.8 cm to 2.3 cm.     Internode length.— 0.2 cm to 1.0 cm.     Number of internodes per branch/stem.— 3 to 5.     Node length.— 0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.     Node diameter.— 0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.     Texture .—Smooth.     Color .—RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).     Branch/stem appearance .—Solid.       
       Foliage:
             Arrangement .—Opposite.     Length.— 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.     Width.— 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.     Shape .—Lanceolate.     Apex .—Acute.     Base .—Obtuse.     Margin .—Entire.     Texture  ( both upper and lower surfaces ).—Smooth.     Immature leaf color  ( both surfaces ).—RHS 138A (Green).     Mature leaf color  ( both surfaces ).—RHS 137A (Green).     Venation pattern .—Absent.     Leaf attachment .—Sessile.       
       Flowers:
             Flower type and habit .—Semi-double, small sprays, round.     Fragrance .—Present, gentle sweet carnation fragrance.     Natural flowering season .—Spring to fall.     Position of flowers relative to the foliage .—Moderately above.     Number of flowers per spray.— 3 to 5.     Diameter of the inflorescence/spray  ( with  3-5  flowers ).—5.0 cm to 7.0 cm.     Flower longevity on the plant.— 14 to 18 days.     Buds .—Length: 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 138A (Green). Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage: Absent.     Corolla .—Quantity of petals and arrangement: 7 to 12 in several whorls. Corolla height: 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm. Corolla diameter: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Petal length: 1.8 cm to 2.5 cm. Petal width: 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Petal shape: Spoon-shaped. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Acute. Petal margin: Serrated. Depth of petal margin: Shallow. Petal texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Petal luster (both surfaces): Soft. Petal color: Immature: Upper surface: RHS 77A (Purple) with RHS 155A (White) at margins. Lower surface: RHS 155A (White). Mature: Upper surface: RHS 77A (Purple) with RHS 155A (White) at margins. Lower surface: RHS 155A (White).     Calyx .—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5 sepals fused at the base. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm. Calyx diameter (at the apex): 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Sepal texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal color: Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green). Lower surface: RHS 137D (Green). Sepal length: 0.8 cm to 1.3 cm. Sepal diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Smooth. Sepal luster (both surfaces): Soft.       
       Peduncles:
             Length.— 5.0 cm to 8.0 cm.     Diameter.— 0.2 cm.     Strength .—Moderate.     Texture .—Smooth.     Color .—RHS 146B (Green).       
       Reproductive organs:
             Stamens .—Quantity per flower: Moderate, 5 to 7. Filament length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B (Green-White). Anther length: 0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS N155B (White). Pollen amount: Absent.     Pistils .—Not observed.       
       Fruit and seed set: None observed.   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect resistance observed.   

     COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY 
     ‘KLEDG19411’ is distinguished from its parent as described in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison with Parental Line 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘KLEDG19411’ 
                 ‘KLEDG12163’ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Main flower color 
                 RHS 77A (Purple) 
                 RHS 75B (Purple) 
               
               
                 Secondary flower color 
                 RHS 155A (White) 
                 RHS 71A (Red-Purple) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     ‘KLEDG19411’ can be compared to the commercial  Dianthus  variety ‘Peach Party’, also known as ‘KLEDG18305’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,019). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison with Similar Variety 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘KLEDG19411’ 
                 ‘KLEDG18305’ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Flower type 
                 Semi-double 
                 Single 
               
               
                 Flower color 
                 Purple with white  
                 Pink with purple ring 
               
               
                   
                 border and eye 
                   
               
               
                 Flowering time 
                 Very early 
                 Early to medium