Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE18318’

Abstract

A new Osteospermum plant particularly distinguished by yellow flowers and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated KLEOE18318 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers.

(2) The photograph is of an 8-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2019. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(3) The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of KLEOE18318. The data which define these characteristics were collected in Latina, Italy on May 16, 2019 on plants that had been potted in week 45 of 2018 and cultivated in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5.sup.th edition (2007). Classification: Family.Asteraceae. Botanical.Osteospermum ecklonis. Common.Osteospermum. Designation.KLEOE18318. Parentage: Female parent.The proprietary Osteospermum variety OE-2011-0679 (unpatented). Male parent.The proprietary Osteospermum variety KLEOE11187 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,034). Plant: Form and habit.Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated as an annual; not frost resistant. Growth habit.Upright. Branching habit.Normal. Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).32.0 cm. Width (including inflorescences).35.0 cm. Propagation type.Stem cuttings; vegetative terminal tip cuttings. Time to produce a finished flowering plant.9 weeks. Time to initiate and develop roots.4 weeks. Root description.Fine and white, RHS 155A. Stems: Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base of the plant).9. Length.28.0 cm. Diameter.0.5 cm. Internode length.1.5 cm. Color.RHS 138B. Texture.Smooth but with fine hairs. Anthocyanin.Absent. Leaves: Arrangement.Alternate. Shape.Obovate. Apex.Acute. Base.Acute. Margin.Entire. Immature color.Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. Mature color.Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A. Length.5.4 cm. Width.1.8 cm. Texture.Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Leathery with fine hairs. Petioles.Absent. Venation pattern.Pinnate. Venation color.Upper surface: RHS 137D. Lower surface: RHS 137C. Flower buds: Shape.Round-ovoid. Length.1.0 cm. Diameter.1.1 cm. Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).RHS 137D. Inflorescence: Type.Single. Blooming habit.Upright, with longer flower stems. Quantity of inflorescences per plant.12. Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.10 to 15 days. Fragrance.Present. Inflorescence diameter.7.0 cm. Inflorescence depth.1.0 cm. Disc diameter.1.3 cm. Disc floret: Quantity per inflorescence.22. Shape.Tubular. Tube color.Closed: RHS 12A. Mature: RHS 9A. Length.0.7 cm. Diameter (at apex).0.2 cm. Apex.Acute. Apex color.RHS 92A. Base.Acute. Base color.RHS 10B. Margin.Entire. Ray floret: Quantity per inflorescence.23. Shape.Oblanceolate. Color.Upper surface: RHS 12B. Lower surface: RHS 12A. Length.3.6 cm. Width.1.0 cm. Apex.Acute. Base.Acute. Margin.Entire. Texture.Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth, shiny. Peduncle: Length.2.0 cm. Diameter.0.1 cm. Texture.Smooth with hairs. Color.RHS 137A. Phyllaries: Arrangement.Single. Observed quantity per flower.16. Shape.Lanceolate. Apex.Acute. Base.Obtuse. Margin.Entire. Length.1.2 cm. Width.0.2 cm. Texture.Upper surface: Smooth with fine hairs. Lower surface: Smooth. Color.Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface: RHS 139B. Reproductive organs: Androecium.Location: On disc and ray florets. Stamens: Shape: Filamentous. Quantity: Numerous, 70 to 100. Filament length: 0.7 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Lanceolate. Color: RHS N92A. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 25A. Amount: Moderate. Gynoecium.Location: On the phyllary. Pistils: Number: Numerous, 50 to 70. Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 18D. Shape: Tapering filamentous and split in two parts. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Style: Color: RHS 156D. Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Fruit and seed set: None observed to date. Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

(4) KLEOE18318 is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

(5) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic KLEOE18318 OE-2011-0679 OE-2009-0816 Earliness Early Medium early Medium early Branching Good Medium Good

(6) KLEOE18318 is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety Flower Power Pink (KLEOE17007). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

(7) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic KLEOE18318 Flower Power Pink Flower color Yellow Pink Earliness Early Very Early