Patent Publication Number: US-PP21815-P2

Title: Torenia plant named ‘Sunrenikonpe’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Torenia  sp. 
     Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNRENIKONPE’. 
     CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     Title:  Torenia  Plant Named ‘Sunrenikonho’ 
     Applicants: Tetsuya Kako &amp; Kiyoshi Miyazaki 
     Filed: Concurrently with this application (U.S. Plant patent application No. 12/590,019) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant, botanically known as  Torenia  sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrenikonpe’. 
     The new  Torenia  plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely-branching  Torenia  plants with mounding habit and numerous large flowers. 
     The new  Torenia  plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in July, 2006 of a proprietary selection of  Torenia  sp, identified as code number TP-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of  Torenia  sp. identified as code number TFOEx-W, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Torenia  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 March, 2007. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Torenia  plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new  Torenia  plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants of the new  Torenia  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 ‘Sunrenikonpe’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrenikonpe’ as a new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia:  
         1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.   2. Freely branching habit.   3. Freely flowering habit.   4. Long flowering period.   5. Light violet-colored flowers.   6. Good garden performance.       

     Plants of the new  Torenia  differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Torenia  are more mounding than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Torenia  and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light purple-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Torenia  differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Torenia  are more mounding and trailing than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Torenia  and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored flowers.       

     Plants of the new  Torenia  can be compared to plants of  Torenia  sp. ‘Sunrenikonho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application No. 12/590,019, filed concurrently. Plants of the new  Torenia  and ‘Sunrenikonho’ differ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Sunrenikonho’ have white-colored flowers. 
     Plants of the new  Torenia  can also be compared to plants of  Torenia  ‘Sunrenilabu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,843. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new  Torenia  and ‘Sunrenilabu’ differed in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Torenia  were larger and more mounding than plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.   2. Plants of the new  Torenia  had thicker stems than plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.   3. Plants of the new  Torenia  had larger leaves than plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.   4. Plants of the new  Torenia  were more freely flowering than plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.   5. Flowers of plants of the new  Torenia  had a yellow-colored blotch whereas flowers of plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’ did not have a yellow-colored blotch.   6. Plants of the new  Torenia  and ‘Sunrenilabu’ differed slightly in flower color.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Torenia  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  Torenia  plant. 
       The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrenikonpe’ grown in a container. 
       The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘Sunrenikonpe’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures averaging 23° C. and night temperatures averaging 15° C. Plants were five and six months old when the photographs and description, respectively, 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:  Torenia  sp. ‘Sunrenikonpe’.   Parentage:
             Female, or seed, parent. —Proprietary selection of  Torenia  sp, identified as code number TP-1, not patented.     Male, or pollen, parent. —Proprietary selection of  Torenia  sp. identified as code number TFOEx-W, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type. —By vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots. —About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.     Time to produce a rooted young plant roots. —About three to four weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.     Root description. —Fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Plant form/habit. —Compact and mounded to trailing plant habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant, pinching enhances branching potential.     Plant height. —About 19 cm.     Plant width  ( spread ).—About 54 cm.     Lateral branches. —Length: About 28.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 9 cm. Aspect: Upright to decumbent. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.       
       Foliage description:
             Arrangement. —Opposite, simple.     Length. —About 4.3 cm.     Width. —About 3.2 cm.     Shape. —Broadly ovate.     Apex. —Acute.     Base. —Truncate to cordate.     Margin. —Serrate.     Texture, upper surface. —Pubescent.     Texture, lower surface. —Smooth, glabrous.     Venation pattern. —Pinnate; reticulate.     Color. —Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 145A.     Petiole. —Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type/habit. —Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils; corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely upright; freely flowering habit with about 140 flowers developing per plant.     Fragrance. —None detected.     Natural flowering season. —Plants begin flowering about three to four weeks after planting; long flowering period; continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in Japan.     Postproduction longevity. —Flowers last about four days on the plant.     Flower buds. —Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm. Shape: Ellipsoidal. Color: Close to 145A to 145B.     Flower diameter. —About 3.5 cm by 2.7 cm.     Flower depth. —About 4.6 cm.     Throat diameter. —About 1 cm.     Tube diameter, base. —About 2.6 mm.     Tube length. —About 2.6 cm.     Petals. —Quantity per flower: Bilabiate with one upper or banner petal and one lower petal with two lateral and one lower lobes, petals fused. Upper petal: Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Mucronate to truncate. Margin: Entire; undulating. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing, upper surface: Close to 92C. Developing, lower surface: Close to 92D. Fully developed, upper surface: More pale than 92C. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 92D. Lower petal: Length, lateral lobes: About 1.2 cm. Width, lateral lobes: About 1.9 cm. Length, lower lobe: About 1.7 cm. Width, lower lobe: About 1.8 cm. Shape, lateral and lower lobes: Elliptic. Apex, lateral lobes: Truncate. Apex, lower lobe: Truncate to rounded. Margin, lateral and lower lobes: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces, lateral and lower lobes: Smooth, glabrous. Color, lateral lobes: Developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N88C. Fully developed, upper surface: Close to N88C. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to N88D. Color, lower lobes: Developing, upper surface: Close to 92C; towards the margin, close to N88D; blotch, close to 12A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 92D; towards the margin, close to N88D. Fully developed, upper surface: Close to 92C; blotch, close to 12B. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 92D. Throat color: Close to 91A to 91B; towards the base, close to 162A. Tube color: Between 86C and N87D; towards the base, close to 162D.     Sepals. —Quantity per flower: Typically five, fused; margins winged. Calyx length: About 1.8 cm. Calyx diameter: About 8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C.     Peduncles. —Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C.     Reproductive organs. —Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament length: About 5 mm to 14 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 4 mm by 0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to N155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Stigma shape: Elliptic. Stigma color: Close to N155A. Style color: Close to N155A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.     Seed/fruit. —Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new  Torenia.          
       Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Torenia  have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to  Torenia.      Garden performance: Plants of the new  Torenia  have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.