<i>Osteospermum </i>plant named ‘INOSTBLPUR’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named INOSTBLPUR, characterized by its mounding and semi-upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large inflorescences with red purple-colored ray florets and dark purple-colored disc florets; and good summer garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named INOSTBLPUR as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum 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 Osteospermum plant.

(2) At the top of the photographic sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of INOSTBLPUR grown in a container and at the bottom of the photographic sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of INOSTBLPUR.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 15.25-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27 C. and night temperatures averaged 15 C. Plants were pinched when planted and were seven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis INOSTBLPUR. Parentage: Female parent.Proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number O 13 201-1, not patented. Male parent.Proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number O 13 24-1, not patented. Propagation: Type.Terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About six to eight days at ambient temperatures ranging from 24 C. to 27 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About seven to nine days at ambient temperatures ranging from 18 C. to 21 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About four weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 24 C. to 27 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.About five weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 18 C. to 21 C. Root description.Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots. Rooting habit.Moderately freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Mounding to semi-upright plant habit; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Plant height.About 21.8 cm. Plant diameter.About 38.2 cm. Lateral branches.Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit with about eight primary branches each with about five secondary branches. Primary branches: Length: About 18.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Secondary branches: Length: About 12.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 mm. Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, primary branches: Erect to semi-upright. Aspect, secondary branches: About 45 from primary branch axis. Texture and luster: Glabrous or sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, developing: Close to 145A. Color, developed: Close to 145B. Leaf description.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 6.8 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Irregularly dentate; indentations shallow to moderate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate and reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Lighter than 138A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation, close to 139D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 139D. Petioles: Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 139D. Inflorescence description: Appearance.Daisy-type inflorescence form with oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly upright to slightly outwardly. Flowering habit.Freely flowering habit with about 41 inflorescences developing per plant at one time. Fragrance.None detected. Flowering response.Plants of the new Osteospermum flower early and continuously from spring until frost; long flowering period; plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting. Inflorescence longevity.Inflorescences of plants of the new Osteospermum last about one week on the plant; inflorescences persistent. Inflorescence buds.Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Rounded. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 138A. Inflorescence size.Diameter: Large, about 6.7 cm. Depth (height): About 1.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.3 cm. Receptacles.Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Height: About 5.2 mm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 138A. Ray florets.Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 22 arranged in two whorls. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Shallowly emarginate. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire, not undulate. Aspect: Mostly horizontal when fully developed and slightly reflexed. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Longitudinally ridged, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 76C; venation, close to N81B to N81C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 76A; venation, close to N81A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 72A; venation, close to N79C; color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 182D; towards the margins, close to 186C; venation, close to N79B; color does not change with development. Disc florets.Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 65 spirally arranged in about five whorls at the center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter, apex: About 1 mm. Diameter, base: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular; apex, five-pointed with acute points. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, immature: Close to 155A; distally, close to N92A. Color, mature: Close to 76B; distally, close to 79B. Phyllaries.Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About 22 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate, fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138A. Peduncles.Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Aspect: Terminal peduncles, upright; axillary peduncles, about 35 to 45 from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; minute; matte. Color: Close to 144B. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to N155A; streaks, close to 185C. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 202A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted, cleft. Stigma color: Close to 202A. Style length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Style color: Close to N79B to N79C. Ovary color: Close to 157C. Seeds and fruits.To date, seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the new Osteospermum. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Osteospermum have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Osteospermum plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been observed to have good summer garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9a to 11b.