Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE18301’

Abstract

A new Osteospermum plant particularly distinguished by white flowers with blue discs and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated KLEOE18301 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. The photograph is of a 12-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2019.

(2) 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 KLEOE18301. 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. 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.KLEOE18301. Parentage: Female parent.The proprietary female Osteospermum variety OE-2010-0382 (unpatented). Male parent.The male Osteospermum variety Sunny (patent status unknown). 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).29.4 cm. Width (including inflorescences).27.5 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).6. Length.27.0 cm. Diameter.0.9 cm. Internode length.3.9 cm. Color.RHS 143B. Texture.Smooth. Anthocyanin.Absent. Leaves: Arrangement.Alternate. Shape.Obovate. Apex.Obtuse. Base.Acute. Margin.Entire. Immature color.Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS 143B. Mature color.Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface: RHS 138A. Length: 7.1 cm. Width: 4.1 cm. Texture.Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Leathery with fine hairs. Petioles.Absent. Venation pattern.Pinnate. Venation color.Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface: RHS 138A. Flower buds: Shape.Round-ovoid. Length.1.1 cm. Diameter.0.9 cm. Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).RHS 138A. Inflorescence: Type.Composite, single. Blooming habit.Upright, with flower stems. Quantity of inflorescences per plant.23. Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.10 to 15 days. Fragrance.Present. Inflorescence diameter.6.5 cm. Inflorescence depth.0.9 cm. Disc diameter.1.2 cm. Disc floret: Quantity per inflorescence.36. Shape.Tubular. Tube color.Closed: RHS NN155A. Mature: RHS N115B. Length.0.6 cm. Diameter (at apex).0.2 cm. Apex.Acute. Apex color.RHS 79A. Base.Acute. Base color.RHS 145D. Margin.Entire. Ray floret: Quantity per inflorescence.16. Shape.Oblanceolate. Color.Upper surface: RHS NN155C (apical), RHS NN155C (Middle), and RHS N82B (basal). Lower surface: Main color RHS N155A with stripes colored RHS 97A. Length.3.6 cm. Width.1.1 cm. Apex.Obtuse. Base.Acute. Margin.Entire. Texture (both surfaces).Smooth. Peduncle: Length.10.1 cm. Diameter.0.2 cm. Texture.Smooth with hairs. Color.RHS 143C. Phyllaries: Arrangement.Single. Observed quantity per flower.15. Shape.Lanceolate. Apex.Acute. Base.Obtuse. Margin.Entire. Length.0.9 cm. Width.0.2 cm. Texture.Upper surface: Smooth with fine hairs. Lower surface: Smooth. Color.Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS 138A. Reproductive organs: Androecium.Location: On disc and ray florets. Stamens: Shape: Filamentous. Quantity: Numerous, 70 to 100. Filament length: 0.5 cm. Filament diameter: less than 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Lanceolate. Color: RHS 77A. Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 17A. Amount: Sparse. Gynoecium.Location: On the phyllary. Pistils: Number: Numerous, 50 to 70. Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 79A. Shape: Tapering filamentous and split in two parts. Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS NN155A. Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: Less than 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) KLEOE18301 is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

(5) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic KLEOE18301 OE-2010-0382 Sunny Disc Color Blue Blue Yellow Earliness Medium late Late Early

(6) KLEOE18301 is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety Flower Power Light Pink. Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

(7) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic KLEOE18301 Flower Power Light Pink Flower color White Light Pink Growth Medium Compact Earliness Medium early Early