Turpentine plant named ‘Butterbloom’

Abstract

A new and distinct Ericameria laricifolia plant named ‘Butterbloom’ is characterized by compact habit, even growth and excellent tolerance to pruning.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Ericameria laricifolia plant substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate Ericameria laricifolia ‘Butterbloom’ growing near Tucson, Ariz., depicted in color as nearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of the character.

(2) FIG. 1 shows Ericameria laricifolia ‘Butterbloom’ at age 3 in bloom near Tucson, Ariz.

(3) FIG. 2 shows Ericameria laricifolia ‘Butterbloom’ flowering heads at various stages of development.

(4) FIG. 3 shows Ericameria laricifolia ‘Butterbloom’ leaves, stems and an inflorescence in early bloom

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

(5) The following is a detailed description of the new turpentine bush plant based upon potted plants at about age 1 year and a more mature specimen growing near Tucson, Ariz. aged 4 years.

(6) The color descriptions are based upon the 5.sup.th edition R.H.S. Colour Chart. Color names other than common usage are as listed in COLOR Universal Language and Dictionary of Names, by Kenneth L. Kelly and Deane B. Judd; National Bureau of Standards special publication 440. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, December 1976.

(7) Plant a much branched evergreen shrub, reaching 3 feet tall×5 feet tall by age 4 years. Leaves: Alternate, glabrous, resinous, containing numerous tiny glands (0.1 mm diameter, color closest to 141B), leaves highly variable in size and profile, shade leaves being quite flattened, while leaves grown in full sun appear needle like. Shade leaves 1.5-2 mm wide×11-24 mm long with a barely visible midrib, veins not visible. Shade leaves linear, apiculate, acute at the base, the leaf flattened, entire, resinous, color of both adaxial and abaxial surfaces 141B. Sun leaves 1-1.25 mm wide×10-12 mm, approaching terete in profile except for some adaxial flattening. Midrib not visible. Leaves resinous, linear, apiculate, entire and acute at the base. Color of both adaxial and abaxial surfaces closest to 141B. Stipules absent. Axillary buds obscure. Stems: Highly branched, young stems similar to the leaves in color (141C), resinous surface and glands. Young stems faintly striate. Internode length 2-7 mm, stem diameter 0.75-1.5 mm. As stems mature the color grades to 164C at 2 mm diameter and 199D at 5 mm or more. At about 3 mm diameter the bark begins to shred longitudinally. This process continues as the stems thicken. By the time the stems reach 2-3 inches in diameter the bark becomes mottled and longitudinally furrowed and rough to the touch. Color grades from 164D to 201B on older bark. Flowers arranged in terminal heads, the heads measuring about 18 mm in depth×18-20 mm wide including the florets. Involucre comprised of graduated phyllaries. Involucre measures 5-7 mm long×3-4 mm in diameter, more or less campanulate in shape. Phyllaries: Somewhat spreading at the tips, glabrous, entire, apiculate, lanceolate. Each phyllary with a pair of glands abaxially at the base, these more or less spherical, 0.5 mm diameter, gland color 143B. Basal phyllaries 3 mm long×1 mm wide; apical phyllaries 5 mm long×1.5 mm wide. The longitudinal central ¼ portion of the phyllaries is colored 145A, which grades to scarious margins colored 150D. The tips of the apical phyllaries are colored 165A, while the tips of the basal phyllaries is colored as the central portion (145A). Adaxially the phyllaries are similar to and colored like the abaxial surface except the glands are only present on the abaxial side. Ray florets: Numbering 6-8, typically 7, pistillate, lacking stamens. Ovary inferior, measuring 2-3 mm long×1 mm wide, colored 154A, oblanceoloid in shape, somewhat flattened dorsally, the surface sericeous. Floret corolla fused into a tube with a strap shaped radial extension. Ray floret corolla tube 3 mm long×0.5 mm diameter. Ray floret corolla strap 7 mm long×2 mm wide, elliptical-oblanceolate in shape with 2-3 fine teeth at the apex, otherwise the strap margin is entire. Strap base is acute. Ray floret corolla color 2A. Pappus comprised of about 15 capillary bristles attached at the apex of the ovary, 4-6 mm long. Stigma exserted, 2 lobed, the recurved lobes colored 2A. Stigma lobes measure 2.5 mm long×0.2 mm diameter. Style about 6-7 mm long×0.25 mm diameter, colored like the floret corolla. Unopened ray floret mature buds oblanceoloid, 7 mm long×1 mm diameter (8 mm long including ovary) colored 2A at the apex grading to 1C near the base. Disc florets: Numbering 7-11 per head, perfect, protandrous. Disc floret corolla with 5 petals fused into a flaring tube with 5 acute radial petal lobes, these recurved and glabrous, the lobes measuring 2 mm long×1 mm wide. Disc floret corolla glabrous except for scattered short hairs below the corolla lobes. Disc floret corolla translucent, color closest to 1C. Tube colored as disc floret corolla lobes. Disc floret corolla measures 6-7 mm long. Stamens 5, united into a tube around the style, inserted in the corolla. Disc floret stamens mature more or less at the time of ray floret opening but before the stigmas of the disc florets have matured. Stamens at maturity are colored 13A, gradually changing to 22A as they age. Dry anthers measure 3 mm long×0.5 mm diameter. Pollen color 13A, released 1-2 days prior to petal spreading. Pappus comprised of numerous capillary bristles (about 20) from 5-7 mm long, the pappus attached near the apex of the ovary. Disc floret ovary measures about 3 mm long×1 mm wide, oblanceoloid, sericeous, color close to 154A. Disc floret style+stigma length 10 mm long, 0.2-0.25 mm diameter. Style colored 1C. Stigma 2 lobed, each about 2-3 mm long, colored 18A, spreading, from slightly ascending to slightly descending. The terminal portion of the stigma lobes is covered with fine, spreading hairs. Unopened mature disc floret buds oblanceoloid, 11 mm long to top of ovary, 1 mm in diameter, color 13C. Fruit: An achene 3.5-4 mm long, 0.7 5mm thick at the widest point, dorsally compressed, angular, sericeous. Wind dispersed by the still attached pappus, the longest bristles 6 mm long. Achene color closest to 191B. Attachment point of achene colored closest to 155C. Distal tip of achene colored 163C at the floral scar.

COMPARISONS TO RELATED TURPENTINE BUSHES

(8) The inventor knows no other patented Ericameria laricifolia cultivars. Two existing unpatented cultivars have been available in the nursery trade. ‘Desert Mountain’ is a seed based cultivar from a wild population in North Scottsdale. The plants are quite variable as this is an open pollinated population of plants. ‘Desert Mountain’ has been widely used for revegetation in the Phoenix area. In general, these plants have a feathery form growing to 2-3 feet tall×2-3 feet wide. This cultivar seems to have gone out of production, as the original grower no longer lists it either on its availability or grow lists. Cultivar ‘Aguirre’ is a clonal selection from New Mexico selected for showy flowers and rich green foliage. This cultivar is listed as growing to 2-3 feet tall and wide. A third cultivar called ‘Texas Canyon’ can be found listed on internet information sites, but no nurseries can be found that produce or sell it.

(9) Compared to ‘Desert Mountain’, Ericameria ‘Butterbloom’ is more uniform, dense and even in growth habit. Bushes of ‘Butterbloom’ are rounded, compared to the feathery form of ‘Desert Mountain’.

(10) Compared to ‘Aguirre’, ‘Butterbloom’ is more uniform, dense and less open in growth form. Compared to the other cultivar descriptions, ‘Butterbloom’ is larger and less tall than wide at 3 feet tall×5 feet wide in the 4 year old individual examined. It should be noted that the phenotype of this species is quite plastic in response to both light and available water, such that the existing cultivars might reach sizes similar to ‘Butterbloom’ under favorable conditions.