<i>Cuphea </i>plant named ‘CUPP1751’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Cuphea named CUPP1751 that is characterized by prolifically self-branching dense and compact mounding plant habit, bi-colored bright vermillion-red and lemon-yellow tubular flowers which are borne in great profusion. In combination, these characteristics set CUPP1751 apart from all other existing varieties of Cuphea known to the inventor.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Cuphea plant named CUPP1751 as described and illustrated herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cuphea variety named CUPP1751 showing the color as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ from color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual color of the new variety CUPP1751. Each photograph is taken from a one-year-old plant of CUPP1751 which had been grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. The photographs were made using conventional digital photographic techniques and although flower and foliage color may appear different from actual color due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by such photography.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plant of CUPP1751 growing in a container.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of CUPP1751 from FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the bicolored tubular flowers of CUPP1751 with its set of stamens and depicting the purple ear-like rudimentary pair of petals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(5) The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Cuphea variety named CUPP1751. Observations, measurements, values and comparisons were collected in Santa Barbara, Calif., from 9-month-old plants grown outdoors. Color determinations are made in accordance with the Fifth Edition (2007) of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Cuphea x hybrida CUPP1751. Family.Lythraceae. Genus.Cuphea. Species.X hybrida. Denomination.CUPP1751. Common name.Cigar plant. Parentage: Cuphea x hybrida CUPP1751 is a hybrid resulting from the open pollination of the following species: Cuphea cyanea, Cuphea ignea. Plant: Habit.Dense, compact, mounding. Commercial category.Ornamental. Use.For garden and landscape. Suggested commercial container size.1 gallon or 2-gallon container. Propagation method.Vegetative cuttings. Rooting system.Fine. Vigor.Highly vigorous and naturally self-branching. Crop time.4 months to produce a 2-gallon container from taking an initial cutting. Plant dimensions.After 15 weeks from planting a rooted cutting into a 2-gallon container, CUPP1751 achieves a height of 20 cm and a spread of 60 cm to 75 cm. When fully established in the landscape, CUPP1751 achieves a height of 60 cm and a spread of 90 cm to 100 cm. in width. Cultural requirements.Grow in full sun to part shade, regular soil, with regular water. Pest or disease resistance.None known to the inventor. Pest or disease susceptibility.None known to the inventor. Hardiness.USDA Zone 10. Special considerations.Blooms continually throughout the year in USDA Zone 10. Stem (main stem, primary branches, secondary branches): Main stem (below pinch at 8 cm.).Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 8 cm in length, 0.5 cm in diameter at soil level. Surface: Rough. Color between N199B and N200A. Primary branches.Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 25 cm to 30 cm in length, 2-3 mm in diameter. Internode distance: 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm. Surface: Lightly pubescent becoming smooth, glabrous with age. Color: 61A. Secondary branches.Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 3 cm to 5 cm in length, 1.5 mm in diameter at soil level. Internode distance: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Surface: Lightly pubescent becoming smooth, glabrous with age. Color: 61A except final one or two nodes 145B. Branch quantity: Very numerous, approximately 50 to 75 primary and secondary branches. Foliage: Type.Evergreen. Leaf arrangement.Opposite. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf margin.Entire, ciliate. Very fine silver-grey hairs, less than 0.5 mm in length. Leaf surface (abaxial and adaxial).Glabrous. Leaf shape.Lanceolate. Leaf length.2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Leaf width.1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Leaf color (adaxial surface).137B. Leaf color (abaxial surface).191B. Leaf apex.Acute. Leaf base.Attenuate. Venation.Pinnate. Vein color (adaxial surface).As leaf, 137B. Evident only as depressions. Vein color (abaxial surface).137B, slightly raised. Attachment.Petiolate. Petiole shape.sub-cylindrical. Petiole surface.Puberulent. Petiole color.191B. Petiole dimensions.1.0 mm to 1.5 mm length, 1 mm in width. Leaf fragrance.None observed. Inflorescence: Inflorescence (axillary and terminal).Solitary flower. Inflorescence structure.Modified calyx whose sepals are completely fused into a colorful floral tube which acts as pollinator attractant. Where present, tiny petals attached to apex of floral tube as a pair of prominent ear-like appendages held uppermost above the flower tube apex. Inflorescence shape.Tubular with six longitudinal ribs. Tube widening towards apex. Tube terminates at base with downward-facing nectar sac. Inflorescence aspect.Downward, approximately 45 degrees below the horizontal. Inflorescence quantity.Very numerous, typically 10 to 15 flowers per stem, approximately 500 flowers per plant at any one time. Blooming season.Year-round if frost-free and unshaded. Inflorescence dimensions.2.5 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter at base, 5 mm in diameter at apex. Inflorescence color (adaxial surface).Nectar sac and approximately two-thirds of entire tube length from base, 50A; approximately one-third of length from tube apex, 13C. These two colored surfaces, 50A and 13C, extend longitudinally towards apex and base respectively. Inflorescence color (abaxial surface).13C, except 64B for nearest 5 mm of inside surface to tube apex. This purple color 64B stops abruptly at 5 mm from apex after which the inside surface becomes 13C. Inflorescence surface.Glabrous. Inflorescence apex (bears petal pair). Color at rim.13C. Rim surface.Ciliate, fine silver-grey hairs 0.5 mm to 1 mm in length. Clear glandular secretions evident on some hairs. Petals.2, cupped, ear-like, positioned superior to apex and held nearly vertical. Distance between petals.4 mm. Petal shape, dimensions, surface.Rhombic-ovoid, 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width. Surface, glabrous. Petal color.Both surfaces, 62B. Persistent or self-cleaning.Self-cleaning. Peduncle color.145C. Peduncle dimensions.8 mm to 11 mm in length, 1 mm. in diameter. Peduncle shape.Cylindrical. Peduncle surface.Pubescent. Inflorescence fragrance.None observed. Lastingness of inflorescence (range).3 to 5 days. Reproductive organs: Stamens.Quantity: 10 adnate to floral tube. Length: Ranges between 3 mm (stamens entirely inside floral tube) and 11 mm (stamens strongly exerted above floral tube apex). Diameter: 1 mm. Color: 71A. Anthers: Ovoid, dorsifixed, 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width, color N77D. Pollen: None observed. Pistil quantity.1. Pistil dimensions.2.5 cm in length, 1 mm in diameter. Pistil color.157D becoming 71A towards and immediately beneath stigma. Stigma.Miniscule, hemispherical, diameter very slightly greater than diameter of pistil at attachment. Stigma color.156D. Ovary position.Superior. Ovary shape.Ovoid. Ovary dimensions.1.5 mm in height, 2 mm in diameter. Ovary color (observed immature).145B.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN VARIETY

(6) The variety of Cuphea which the inventor considers most closely to resemble CUPP1751 is Cuphea Pink Mouse (unpatented). Both varieties CUPP1751 and Pink Mouse bear bicolored tubular flowers with tiny ear-like petal appendages at the rim of the floral tube. Whereas the tube of Pink Mouse is bicolored soft pink and lemon yellow, the flowers of CUPP1751 are bicolored vermillion red and deeper yellow in color. Whereas the petal appendages of Pink Mouse are very dark purple in color, those of CUPP1751 are lighter purple in color.