Portulaca plant named ‘SAKPOR018’

Abstract

A portulaca plant particularly distinguished by having white flowers, long flower blooming period and a dense, compact, and mounding plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of portulaca plant designated SAKPOR018 as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) This portulaca plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a three month old plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

(4) The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of SAKPOR018. The data which define these characteristics were collected from three month old plants grown in Salinas, Calif. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4.sup.th edition (2001). Classification: Family.Portulacaceae. Botanical.Portulaca oleracea. Common.Purslane. Designation.SAKPOR018. Parentage: Female parent.7B1-23A-V1 (unpatented). Male parent.7B1-25A-V1 (unpatented). Growth: Time to produce a rooted cutting.About 2 weeks. Environmental conditions for plant growth.The terminal 1.0 to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks. The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24 C. Plant description: Habit and form.Dense, compact, and mounding. Height.Approximately 10.0 cm from soil line to top of foliage. Spread.Approximately 34.0 cm. Time and conditions to produce a rooted cutting.2 weeks. Life cycle.Annual. Flowering requirements.Blooms repeatedly from spring to fall. Stems: General description.Round with lateral ridges. Stem color.Closest to RHS 144B (Yellow-Green). Anthocyanin color.Absent. Pubescence.Absent. Stem diameter.2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Stem length.9.0 cm to 10.0 cm. Internode length.1.4 cm. Branching.Abundant. Leaves: Arrangement.Alternate. Shape.Oblanceolate. Apex.Acute. Base.Rounded. Margin.Entire. Leaf attachment.Petiolate. Surface appearance (both surfaces).Dull, slightly waxy. Leaf length.3.2 cm. Leaf width.1.5 cm. Leaf thickness.Less than 1.0 mm. Surface texture (both surfaces).Dull, slightly waxy, soft. Leaf color.Upper surface: Closest to but darker than RHS 138A (Green). Lower surface: Closest to but darker than RHS 148C (Yellow-Green). Leaf surface pubescence.Absent. Venation.Only the mid vein is visible. Petiole.Absent. Fragrance.Absent. Inflorescence: Inflorescence type.Solitary, sessile. Flowering habit.Determinate. Time to bloom from propagation.6 to 8 weeks. Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.1 day. Flower diameter.3.6 cm. Flower depth.1.8 cm. Fragrance.Absent. Flower bud: Surface appearance and texture.Shiny, pubescent. Shape.Lanceolate. Bud length.1.3 cm. Bud diameter.4.0 mm. Bud color.RHS 145A (Yellow-Green). Corolla: Shape.Five distinct petals, free, petals are heart-shaped with a square base. Petal pubescence.Glabrous. Petal size.Length: 2.0 cm. Width: 1.4 cm. Petal apex.Retuse. Petal margin.Double lobed. Petal color (both surfaces).Closest to RHS 155C (White) but pure white. Calyx: Arrangement.Composed of two sepals, free. Sepals.Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire, slightly sinuate. Sepal length: 9.0 mm. Sepal diameter: 8.0 mm. Sepal color: Closest to RHS 144B (Yellow-Green) and translucent. Texture (both surfaces): Soft, dull and slightly sticky. Reproductive organs: Androecium. Stamen number.Many. Stamen form.Free. Stamens color.Anther: RHS 17A (Yellow-Orange). Filament color: RHS 145D (Yellow-Green). Stamen length.5.0 mm. Pollen amount.Minimal. Pollen color.RHS 17A (Yellow-Orange). Fragrance.Absent. Placental arrangement.Central. Pistil number.1 (per inflorescence). Pistil length.1.1 cm. Stigma color.RHS 157D (Green-White). Stigma length.3.0 mm. Style length.8.0 mm. Style color.RHS 145D (Yellow-Green). Seed production.None observed. Disease and insect resistance: None observed. Environmental conditions, disease and insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

(5) SAKPOR018 is a distinct variety of Portulaca owing to its white flower color and domed plant habit. SAKPOR018 is distinguished from its parents as shown below in Table 1.

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent: Male parent: Characteristic SAKPOR018 7Bl-23A-V1 7Bl-25A-V1 Flower size Medium Smaller than Medium SAKPOR018 Plant growth habit Domed Domed Upright

(7) SAKPOR018 is most similar to the variety SUN DANCE White, also known as SAKPOR006 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,526) however, there are differences in plant habit and petal color as described in the table below.

(8) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic SAKPOR018 SAKPOR006 Plant growth Domed, compact Semi-mounding, upright and habit vigorous Petal color Both surfaces Upper surface: RHS N155A are closest to (White) with RHS 145D (Yellow- RHS 155C (White) Green) at the base. Lower surface: but pure white RHS N155A (White)