<i>Gomphrena </i>plant named ‘PAST0517E’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Gomphrena plant named PAST0517E, characterized by its red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gomphrena plant named PAST0517E, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of PAST0517E. The plants were grown in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of PAST0517E.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of PAST0517E.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

(5) The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in May 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

(6) The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 4-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67 F. to 72 F. (19 C. to 22 C.) during the day and approximately 65 F. to 68 F. (18 C. to 20 C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants. Botanical classification: Gomphrena pulchella PAST0517E. Parentage: Female parent.Proprietary Gomphrena pulchella breeding selection not coded, not patented. Male parent.Proprietary Gomphrena pulchella breeding selection not coded, not patented. Propagation: Type cutting.Terminal stem. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 12 to 14 days. Time to produce a rooted cutting.Approximately 5 to 6 weeks. Root description.Fibrous, fine. Rooting habit.Freely branching, moderate density. Plant description: Commercial crop time.Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot. Growth habit and general appearance.Annual, vigorous, upright-mounded. Size.Height from soil level to top of plant plane: Approximately 55.0 cm. Width: Approximately 65.0 cm. Branching habit.Freely branching, pinching enhances basal branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant: Approximately 14. Branch.Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 46.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 7.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent, strigose. Color of young stem: 146B with an overlay of 187C at nodes. Color of mature stem: 146A with an overlay of 187B at nodes. Foliage description: General description.Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Leaves.Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Lanceolate, keeled. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 10.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent, strigose. Color of upper surface of young foliage: NN137A and midvein of 146C other venation indistinguishable from laminae. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: NN137A with 139A and midvein of 146C other venation indistinguishable from laminae. Flowering description: Flowering habit.PAST0517E is freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring through autumn. Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the plant.Approximately 30 days. Inflorescence description: General description.Type: Clover-like, papery-like heads, persistent. Quantity per plant: Approximately 37. Fragrance: None detected. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height: Approximately 1.8 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 120. Peduncle.Strength: Strong. Shape: Round. Aspect: Erect to acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 10.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent, strigose. Color: 146A. Flower description: General description.Type: Tubular, sessile with a five-parted perianth in a single whorl subtended by two bracts. Bud just before opening.Shape: Oblong. Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color: N78C. Perianth segments.Quantity: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with sericeous base, papery-like. Color of inner surface: N78C with NN155D at base. Color of outer surface: N78A to N78B with NN155D at base. Bracts.Quantity per flower: 2 per flower. Shape: Ovate, keeled. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, translucent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: NN155D and N78B. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen quantity and arrangement: Filaments united into a cylindrical tube with five acute tips, tube encases the gynoecium. Filament length: Approximately 1.1 mm. Filament tube width: Approximately 1.5 mm. Color of outer and inner surfaces of filament tube: Tips of 14A, top of tube potion of N78B transitioning though NN155D to base of 146C. Anther shape: Oblong, dosifixed to filament tip. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 14B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 145D, translucent. Style length: Less than 1.0 mm. Style color: 146D. Ovary diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 146D. Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Gomphrena has not been observed.