<i>Echinacea </i>plant named ‘IFECSSAL’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named IFECSSSAL, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; numerous large single-type inflorescences with purplish pink-colored ray florets and reddish brown-colored receptacle spines; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named IFECSSSAL as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

(2) The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of IFECSSSAL grown in a container.

(3) The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph) of IFECSSSAL.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10 C. to 25 C. and night temperatures ranged from 4 C. to 15 C. Plants were pinched eight weeks after planting and were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida IFECSSSAL. Parentage: Female parent.Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-13-K024-05, not patented. Male parent.Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-12-K024-03, not patented. Propagation: Type.By in vitro meristem culture. Time to initiate roots, summer.About twelve days at temperatures about 20 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About 16 days at temperatures about 20 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 36 days at temperatures about 18 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.About 42 days at temperatures about 18 C. Root description.Thick, fleshy; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.Moderately freely branching; sparse. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.Herbaceous perennial; upright and relatively compact plant habit, inverted triangle; freely basal branching habit with about six lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit. Plant height.About 51 cm. Plant diameter or spread.About 37.8 cm. Lateral branches.Length: About 21.6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Aspect: Erect to about 20 from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely pubescent; strigose, rough. Color: Close to 144B. Leaf description: Basal leaves.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 12.5 cm. Width: About 8.9 cm. Shape: Ovate; slightly carinate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire to shallowly dentate; moderately to strongly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent, strigose and rough; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 138A and 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 148C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C. Cauline leaves.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 12.1 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate, slightly carinate. Apex: Acute to narrowly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent, strigose and rough; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 138A and 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 148C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C. Petioles, basal leaves.Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Mostly glabrous; margins and midvein, sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Center, close to 144B; towards the margins, close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A to 145B; towards the margins, close to 137A. Petioles, cauline leaves.Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Mostly glabrous; margins and midvein, sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Center, close to 144B; towards the margins, close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A to 145B; towards the margins, close to 137A. Inflorescence description: Appearance.Large single-type inflorescences with ray and disc florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences positioned upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright and strong peduncles. Flowering habit.Freely flowering habit with about twelve developing and fully developed inflorescences per plant. Fragrance.Faintly fragrant; fragrance is sweet, slightly acidic and pleasant. Time to flower.Plants flower continuously from early July to late September in The Netherlands. Inflorescence longevity.Inflorescences maintain good substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent. Inflorescence buds.Height: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 4.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 143A; immature ray florets, close to 11D. Inflorescence size.Diameter: About 12 cm. Depth (height): About 5.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 4.5 cm. Receptacles.Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 155A. Ray florets.Quantity and arrangement: About 38 arranged in about two whorls at the base of the receptacle. Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate; carinate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Cuneate, fused at the base. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Aspect: Horizontal to slightly upright, about 10 from horizontal. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 55D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 56A and 56B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 56A; towards the base and venation, close to 55A; color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 56A and 56B; towards the base and venation, close to 55B and 55C; color does not change with development. Disc florets.Quantity and arrangement: About 750 per inflorescence, arranged spirally at the center of the inflorescence. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular; proximally, 12.5% free, not fused. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 143C. Mid-section and base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 143B. Mid-section and base: Close to 144D. Receptacle spines.Quantity: One per disc floret; about 750 per inflorescence. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Apex: Close to 175A. Mid-section: Close to 163B. Base: Close to 144B; proximally, close to NN155D. Involucral bracts.Quantity per inflorescence: About 130 arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; margins, moderately pubescent. Texture, lower surface: Moderately pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C. Peduncles.Length: About 17.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 15 from vertical. Texture: Moderately to densely pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to 143A to 143B flushed with close to 144B and 144C. Reproductive organs.Androecium (present on ray and disc florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 200A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Echinacea. Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 35 C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4.