<i>Molinia </i>plant named ‘Whirlwind’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Molinia plant named Whirlwind that is characterized by its plant size of 1.35 m in height and width, its elegant and rather open inflorescences that are light brown in color, its stem that remain upright and don't lodge until late fall, and its floriferous blooming habit.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Molinia plant named Whirlwind as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Molinia. The photographs were taken of a 3-year-old plant of Whirlwind as grown outdoors in a garden in Hummelo, The Netherlands.

(2) The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of Whirlwind in bloom.

(3) The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences of Whirlwind.

(4) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Molinia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The following is a detailed description of plants 3-years-in-age as field grown in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Blooming period.Late summer into autumn in The Netherlands. Plant type.Herbaceous perennial grass. Plant habit.Obovate, broadly upright, formed by near globular basal rosettes of leaves with inflorescences carried well above the foliar plane. Height and spread.An average of 1.35 m in height and width as grown in the landscape. Cold hardiness.At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 4. Environmental stresses.Good tolerance to wind and rain. Diseases.No resistance or susceptibility to diseases has been observed. Root description.Dense, freely branching, medium thickness, slightly fleshy, 155D in color. Propagation.Division. Growth rate.Moderate. Root development.About 13 weeks to produce a young rooted plant from a division. Shoot description.About 250 basal shoots, unbranched. Foliage description: Leaf shape.Linear, flat to slightly carinate. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf quantity.Average of 5 per shoot. Leaf margin.Entire. Leaf base.Decurrent. Leaf apex.Narrow and long acuminate. Leaf venation.Parallel, only main vein visible on under surface; 137A in color. Leaf width.An average of 6 mm in width, sheathed portion; 4 mm. Leaf length.An average of 33.7 cm (excluding decurrent base), sheathed portion; 20.9 cm. Leaf surface.Glabrous and smooth on both surfaces, ligule glabrous. Leaf color (both surfaces).Young and mature upper surface 137A, young and mature lower surface NN137B, both surfaces change to 164B in the fall. Flower description: Inflorescence type.Airy panicle of racemes at terminus of stem, primarily symmetrical. Inflorescence size.An average of 30.1 cm in length and 6 cm in diameter. Flower quantity.Average of 250 per inflorescence, 50,000 per plant. Flower buds.Average of 3 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter, linear in shape, surface is smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy, 161C in color. Spikelet description.Consisting of 2 glumes and 2 lemmas, upright, moderately free habit, no fragrance, 3.5 mm in height, 1.5 cm in diameter, 1.5 cm in length, lasts an average of 1 month, persistent, surface is glabrous and slightly glossy, glumes; 2 glumes oppositely placed at the base of each spikelet, lemmas oppositely placed above the glumes, slightly concave, linear in shape, average of 3.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width, narrow acute tip, cuneate base, 161C in color, lemmas; moderately concave, linear in shape, average of 3 mm in length, 1 mm in width, narrowly acute tip, cuneate base, 161C in color. Peduncles.Average of 91.2 cm in length, 1.25 mm in diameter, held in a 20 angle to vertical, strong, smooth, glabrous and moderately glossy surface, 138B in color and changing to 144B in color at the base. Pedicels.Average of 4 mm in length, 0.4 mm in diameter, held in a 5 angle to peduncle, strong, smooth, glabrous and matte surface, 162B to 162C in color. Reproductive organs: Androecium.Stamens; 3, anthers; 2 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width, 162C in color, filament; 155A in color, 1.5 mm in length, pollen; none observed. Gynoecium.Pistil; 2, 2 mm in length, stigma; feather-like, 1 mm in length, 0.4 mm in diameter, 84B to 84C in color, style; 1 mm in length, 153A in color, ovary; 162C in color. Seed.None observed to date.