<i>Petunia </i>plant named ‘KERPICOT’

Abstract

A new and distinct Petunia cultivar named KERPICOT is disclosed, characterized by a semi-trailing, free-branching growth habit, and violet flowers with white rims. The plants are more tolerant to rain than the average Petunia. The new variety is a Petunia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named KERPICOT as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of KERPICOT grown in a greenhouse, in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical mature flower of KERPICOT during Spring. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting in a 20 cm pot.

(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 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe KERPICOT plants grown in greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during April of 2018. The plants were approximately 10 weeks from a rooted cutting in a 30 cm hanging basket. The growing temperature ranged from 20 C. to 35 C. during the days, 17 C. to 23 C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Petunia x atkinsiana KERPICOT.

PROPAGATION

(5) Time to initiate roots: Approximately 10 days at 20 C. Root description: Fibrous, freely branching.

PLANT

(6) Growth habit: Spreading, mounded. Pot size of plant described: 30 cm hanging basket. Height: 17.3 cm to top of flowering plane. Plant spread: 37.3 cm. Growth rate: Medium. Length of primary lateral branches: 29.8 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: 0.4 cm. Quantity of primary lateral branches: 6. Characteristics of primary lateral branches: Color.Young stem: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature stem.RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Texture.Densely pubescent. Strength.Medium. Internode length: 2.83 cm.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.Alternate before flowering, then opposite. Form.Simple. Quantity.11 per branch. Average length.5.3 cm. Average width.4.1 cm. Shape of blade.Elliptic. Apex.Acute on young leaves, becoming obtuse. Base.Obtuse. Margin.Entire. Texture of top surface.Sparsely pubescent. Texture of bottom surface.Sparsely pubescent. Color.Young foliage upper side: Darker than RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Venation.Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Between RHS Yellow-Green 146C and D. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Petiole.Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0. 2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Texture: Densely pubescent.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 21 to 28 days. Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Simple, salverform. Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower. Flower longevity on plant: 5 to 6 days. Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: 26. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. Bud: Shape.Oblong. Length.2.6 cm. Diameter at apex.0.9 cm. Diameter at base.0.4 cm. Texture.Densely pubescent. Color.RHS Violet N92A; apex White N155A. Flower size: Diameter.7 cm. Length.About 2.5 cm. Flower tube diameter at distal end.About 0.8 cm. Flower tube diameter at proximal end.About 0.3 cm. Petals: Length from tube.3 cm. Length of free portion.1.6 cm. Width.3.4 cm. Quantity.5. Shape.Obovate. Appearance.Velvety. Texture, upper surface.Glabrous. Texture, lower surface.Sparsely pubescent. Apex.Obtuse. Margin.Entire, undulating. Lobing.Strong. Color: When opening. Upper surface.Darker than RHS Purple N81A. Rim White NN155D. White rim about 4 to 7 mm thick. Lower surface.Near RHS Purple 83C. Rim White NN155D. White rim about 4 to 7 mm thick. Veins Violet 86B. Fully opened. Upper surface.Darker, richer than RHS Violet N87A, with darker venation (Violet 86A). Rim whiter than White NN155D. White rim about 4 to 7 mm thick. Lower surface.Near RHS Violet 87A, darker towards base. Rim whiter than White NN155D. White rim about 4 to 7 mm thick. Veins Violet 86B. Flower throat (inside).RHS Violet-Blue N92B. Flower throat, vein.RHS Violet-Blue N92C. Flower tube (outside).RHS Violet 83C. Flower tube, vein.RHS Yellow-Green N144C. Corolla tube: Length.2.93 cm. Diameter at distal end.1.77 cm. Diameter at proximal end.2 cm. Texture, inner surface.Glabrous. Texture, outer surface.Densely pubescent. Sepals: Quantity per flower.5 fused along lower half. Shape.Cuneate. Length.1.8 cm. Width.0.73 cm. Margin.Entire. Apex.Obtuse. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.Densely pubescent. Color.Upper Surface: Between RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Peduncle: Strength.Strong. Aspect.45 degrees to stem. Length.3 cm. Diameter.3 mm. Texture.Densely pubescent. Color.Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.5 partially fused to inside of corolla tube. Length.2 cm. Filament length.8.7 mm. Filament color.RHS Purple N77B. Anthers: Length.2 mm. Shape.Reniform. Color.Near RHS Green-Grey 188B. Pollen.Color: Near RHS Blue 115C. Pistil: Number.1. Length.1.47 cm. Style.Length: 8.7 mm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Stigma.Shape: Linear. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Petunia have been observed. Typical well-known diseases include: Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia species. Typical well-known pests include: Leaf miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly caterpillars. Temperature tolerance: Tolerates a range between 5 C. to 40 C.