<i>Petunia </i>plant named ‘KERSUPLUM’

Abstract

A new and distinct Petunia cultivar named KERSUPLUM is disclosed, characterized by a compact, mounding, growth habit, and attractive double purple flowers with darker purple veins. The plants flower freely and begin flowering under short day condition. The new variety is a Petunia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named KERSUPLUM as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of KERSUPLUM grown in a greenhouse, in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical mature flower of KERSUPLUM during Spring. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 90 days from a rooted cutting in a 20 cm pot.

(3) The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe KERSUPLUM plants grown in greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during April of 2018. The plants were approximately 16 weeks old from a rooted cutting in a 1.5 liter pot. The growing temperature ranged from 20 C. to 35 C. during the days, 17 C. to 23 C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Petunia atkinsiana KERSUPLUM.

PROPAGATION

(5) Time to initiate roots: Approximately 10 days at 20 C. Root description: Fibrous, freely branching. White, to light tan, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 to 28 days.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Compact, mounded. Pot size of plant described: 1.5 liter. Height: 23.0 cm to top of flowering plane. Plant spread: 37.0 cm. Growth rate: Moderate. Length of primary lateral branches: 31 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: 0.7 cm. Quantity of primary lateral branches: 4. Characteristics of primary lateral branches: Color.Young stem: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature stem: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Texture.Pubescent. Strength.Strong. Internode length: 3 cm.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.Alternate before flowering, then opposite. Form.Simple. Quantity.31 per main branch. Average length.5.5 cm. Average width.3.5 cm. Shape of blade.Ovate. Apex.Acute. Base.Obtuse. Margin.Entire. Angle of attachment.About 60 to 80 degrees from stem. Texture of top surface.Sparsely pubescent. Texture of bottom surface.Pubescent. Color.Young foliage upper side: Darker than RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Venation.Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Petiole.Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Texture: Pubescent.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 21 to 28 days. Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Simple, salverform. Rate of flower opening: Typically about 2-3 days from bud to fully opened flower. Flower longevity on plant: 5 to 6 days. Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: Average 26 flowers and 23 buds on a plant of this age. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. Bud: Shape.Conical. Length.3.6 cm. Diameter at apex.1.4 cm. Diameter at base.0.6 cm. Texture.Pubescent, more densely pubescent at base. Color.RHS Purple N79A, venation 79A. Base Yellow-Green 146C. Flower size: Diameter.5 cm. Length.About 2.4 cm. Flower tube diameter at distal end.About 1.4 cm. Flower tube diameter at proximal end.About 0.4 cm. Petals: Length from tube.2.4 cm. Length of free portion.0.7 cm. Width.2.6 cm. Quantity.10 to 12. Shape.Cuneate. Appearance.Matte. Texture, upper surface.Glabrous. Texture, lower surface.Glabrous. Apex.Obtuse. Margin.Entire, slightly ruffled. Lobing.Very weak to absent. Color: When opening. Upper surface.Near Purple N78C with veining of N79A. Lower surface.Near Purple N78B with veining of 79A. Fully opened. Upper surface.Near Purple N78B with veining of N78A. Lower surface.Near Purple 77C with veining of N77A. Flower throat (inside).RHS Purple N79A. Flower throat, vein.Not visible. Flower tube (outside).RHS Greyed-Purple N187A. Flower tube, vein (outside).RHS Purple N79A. Corolla tube: Length.2.3 cm. Diameter at distal end.1.5 cm. Diameter at proximal end.0.4 cm. Texture, inner surface.Glabrous. Texture, outer surface.Densely pubescent. Sepals: Quantity per flower.5 fused along lower half. Shape.Cuneate. Length.2.0 cm. Width.0.5 cm. Margin.Entire. Apex.Acute. Texture, lower surfaces.Sparsely pubescent. Texture, upper surfaces.Densely pubescent. Color.Upper Surface: Between RHS Green 137A. Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Peduncle: Strength.Strong. Aspect.45 degrees to stem. Length.2.1 cm. Diameter.3 mm. Texture.Pubescent. Color.Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.4-6. Length.1.9 cm. Filament length.1.2 cm. Filament color.RHS Green-White 157A. Anthers: Length.2 mm. Shape.Reniform. Color.Near RHS Greyed-Green 196D. Pollen.Color: Near RHS Blue-Green 122C. Pistil: Number.1. Length.2.3 cm. Style.Length: 1.9 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Stigma.Shape: Linear. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 147C. Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Petunia have been observed. Typical well-known diseases include: Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia species. Typical well-known pests include: Leaf miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly caterpillars. Temperature tolerance: Tolerates a range between 5 C. to 40 C.