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

Abstract

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ROCPINK is disclosed, characterized by cold-hardy plants producing multiple pink flowers per stem. 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 ROCPINK 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 side view of several 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 ROCPINK 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 ROCPINK.

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 82 to 85 cm. Plant spread: Average 28 to 35 cm. Growth rate: Medium to strong. Branching characteristics: Branched panicle. Length of lateral branches: Average range 15 to 40 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: Average range 0.4 to 0.6 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: Between RHS Yellow-Green 144A and 144B. Aspect/angle of branches: 13-25 from vertical. Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

(7) Basal leaf: Arrangement.Young Leaf: Trifoliate. Mature Leaf Biternate. Average length.11 to 36 cm. Average width.11 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. Texture of bottom surface.Glabrous to slightly tomentose. 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 Green NN137A to NN137B. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. 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 146C. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Petiole.Appearance: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: Average range 15 to 28 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.3 to 0.5 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Leaf at the nodes of the stems: Arrangement.Biternate. Average length.19 cm. Average width.11 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. Texture of bottom surface.Glabrous to slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface.Slightly glossy. Appearance bottom surface.Slightly glossy. Leaf internode length.Average 3 to 15 cm. Color.Foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. 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 144A. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Petiole.Appearance: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: Average 3 to 8 cm. Diameter: Average 0.3 to 0.5 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

FLOWER

(8) Bloom period: Spring. Vase life (cut flower): 12 to 14 days in water. Flower longevity on plant: 3 to 5 days from bud to open flower. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. Bud: Closed bud.Shape: Broadly ovate with a sharp point. Length: 1.3 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.3 to 1.6 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144B; 144A at apex. Slightly open bud.Shape: Broadly ovate. Length: 1.5 to 1.9 cm. Diameter: 1.5 to 1.9 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144C; 144B at apex. Flower size: Diameter.Average 6.3 to 7.5 cm. Height.Average 4 to 4.5 cm. Corolla: Round, regular. Petals: Arrangement.Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very tight verticils. Size of petals variable, according to position, decreasing from exterior towards the center. Lobe length.3.2 cm. Lobe width.3.4 cm. Quantity.10 to 15. Texture.Glossy. Lobe apex.Rounded. Lobe shape.Obovate. Margin.Entire. Aspect.Concave. Very mature flowers see the top 0.6 to 0.7 cm roll over on either side of the apex to give a quilled effect. Color when opening.Upper surface: RHS Red 39C; between Yellow 2C and 2D at base. Lower surface: RHS Red 38B; Yellow-Green 145C at base. Color fully opened.Upper surface: Between RHS Red 39C and 39D, flecked with 43D, paler than Yellow-Green 145D at the base. Lower surface: RHS Red 39C; Yellow-Green 145C at base; between Red 38A and 38B at edges. Calyx/sepals: Quantity per flower.4 to 5 which fall from mature flowers. Shape.Concave, incurved at apex. Length.1.8 to 2.4 cm. Width.0.7 to 0.9 cm. Apex.Acute. Base.Flat. Margin.Entire. Texture.Lower surface: Tomentose. Upper surface: Tomentose. Color.Outer Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C; 145D near base. Inner Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C; 145D near base. Peduncle: None. Pedicel: Length.Average 13 to 18 cm. Diameter.Average 0.3 to 0.4 cm. Color.RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Orientation.Upright, straight, rigid. 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 168A. Pollen.Sparse. Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, locked together at the center of the corolla, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium. Height.0.6 cm. Width.0.4 cm. Shape.Domed, ovate. Pistil color.RHS Greyed-Purple 187B.

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.