<i>Ranunculus </i>plant named ‘ROCYELLOW’

Abstract

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ROCYELLOW is disclosed, characterized by cold-hardy plants producing multiple yellow flowers with red flecks The new variety is a Ranunculus, useful as an ornamental plant or for cut flower production.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ROCYELLOW as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately 1 year old, grown outdoors.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of flowers.

(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 6.sup.th edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe 18-month-old ROCYELLOW plants grown in a vented, unheated polytunnel in London, United Kingdom. No chemical treatments were performed. The growing temperature ranged from 5 C. to 25 C. during the day and from 5 C. to 10 C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Ranunculus cortusifolius x asiaticus ROCYELLOW.

PROPAGATION

(5) Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-15 C. Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days. Root description: Secondary roots grow from the tuber and are fasciculate.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust, semi-erect. Height to top flower: Average 54 to 65 cm. Plant spread: Average 40 to 45 cm. Growth rate: Medium to strong. Branching characteristics: Branched panicle. Length of lateral branches: Average range 12 to 29 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: Average range 0.5 to 0.7 cm. Texture of lateral branches: Glossy, slightly tomentose. Internode length: Very close, forming basal rosette. Strength of lateral branches: Medium to strong. Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Aspect/angle of branches: 30 from vertical. Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

(7) Basal leaf: Arrangement.Young Leaf: Trifoliate. Mature Leaf: Biternate. Average length.22 cm. Average width.10 cm. Overall shape of blade.Young Leaf: Obovate. Mature Leaf: Palmatifid to palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection.Leaves generally lobed, in 3 parts, each further divided in 3 or more lobes. Lobes become more pronounced as leaf ages. Apex.Young leaf: Rounded. Mature leaf: Acute. Base.Rounded. Attachment.Base of the plant. Margin.Dentate. Texture of top surface.Glabrous to slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface.Glabrous. Appearance of top surface.Slightly glossy. Appearance bottom surface.Slightly glossy. Leaf internode length.Very close to form a basal rosette. Color.Young foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature foliage upper side: Darker than RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Venation.Type: Dichotomous; plunging into the limb at the upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Petiole.Appearance: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: Average range 7 to 11 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.2 to 0.3 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Leaf at the nodes of the stems: Arrangement.Biternate. Average length.11 to 13 cm. Average width.9 to 14 cm. Overall shape of blade.Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection.Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further divided in many deeply incised lobes. Apex.Acute. Base.Acute. Attachment.Petiolate. Margin.Entire to serrate. Texture of top surface.Glabrous to slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface.Glabrous. Appearance of top surface.Slightly glossy. Appearance bottom surface.Slightly glossy. Leaf internode length.Average 6 to 13 cm. Color.Foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Venation.Type: Dichotomous, plunging into the limb at the upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green N144A. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green RHS N144B. Petiole.Appearance: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: Average 3 to 5 cm. Diameter: Average 0.4 to 0.8 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146D.

FLOWER

(8) Bloom period: Spring. Vase life (cut flower): 12 to 14 days in water. Rate of flower opening: 3 to 5 days from bud to open flower. Flower longevity on plant: 5 to 7 days. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. Bud: Closed bud.Shape: Ovate. Length: 0.8 to 1 cm. Diameter: 1 to 1.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Slightly open bud.Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 1 to 1.2 cm. Diameter: 1.2 to 1.4 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144B; 144C at edge of sepals. Flower size: Diameter.6 cm. Height.2.5 cm. Corolla: Round, regular. Petals: Arrangement.Semi-double, imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very tight verticils. Size of petals variable, according to position, decreasing from exterior towards the center. Lobe length.2.8 cm. Lobe width.2.4 cm. Quantity.17-21. Texture.Silky, thin, glossy. Lobe apex.Rounded to retuse. Lobe shape.Obovate. Margin.Entire. Aspect.Concave with moderately incurved apex when fully open. Color when opening.Upper surface: RHS Yellow 6B. Flecks and splashes of Orange-Red N34A. Lower surface: Between RHS Yellow 7A and Greyed-Purple 185A. Flecks and splashes of Orange-Red N34A. Color fully opened.Upper surface: RHS Yellow 5A; fading to between 5C and 5D at apex. Flecks and splashes of Greyed-Purple 187B. Lower surface: Between RHS Yellow 3B and 4A; heavily splashed and flecked with Greyed-Purple 187B. Splashes and flecks cover approximately 15 to 40% of petal surface, with more splashes and flecks towards apex than near base. Calyx/sepals: Quantity per flower.5. Shape.Concave. Length.1.5 to 1.7 cm. Width.0.6 to 0.8 cm. Apex.Acute. Base.Flat. Margin.Entire. Texture.Lower surface: Tomentose. Upper surface: Tomentose. Color.Outer Surface: RHS Yellow 2B; Yellow-Green 150C near base. Inner Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 150B, 144C at apex. Peduncle: None. Pedicel: Length.Average 12 to 23 cm. Diameter.Average 0.2 to 0.3 cm. Color.RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Orientation.Upright. Pubescence.Slightly tomentose. Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Androecium: Stamens.Numerous, short and completely surround the gynoecium. Anther shape.Slightly curved. Anther length.Approximately 0.7 cm. Anther color.RHS Greyed-Orange 187A; filament Yellow 7A. Pollen.Sparse. Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, locked together at the center of the corolla, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium. Height.Average 1.3 to 1.5 cm. Width.Average 0.5 to 0.6 cm. Shape.Domed, ovate. Pistil color.RHS Greyed-Purple N186C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Disease resistance: Typical for the species. Powdery mildew, leaf miner and rodent damage have all been observed in trials. Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: More cold-hardy compared to other Ranunculus cultivars. Has survived 14 C. in trials in well-drained soil. Fruit/seed production: Not observed.