TILIA TREE NAMED `KROMM'

Abstract

A new and distinct Tilia americana tree named KROMM is disclosed, characterized by a unique narrow pyramidal shape and a dense, compact morphology. Foliage is a lustrous dark green, with this attractive quality maintained late into the season. During early Fall foliage of the new variety is still attractive when many Tilia americana trees have a dull, withering appearance. The new variety is an ornamental tree, useful for landscape purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Tilia americana tree named KROMM as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0009] The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical tree of KROMM in Reeseville, Wis., during early Fall. Age of the tree in FIG. 1 is approximately 10 to 11 years.

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a tree of KROMM at approximately 14 years.

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the crown of a tree of KROMM, with typical dense and acute branching.

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a comparison of trees of Kromm, appearing on the left, Redmond, in the center and McKSentry on the right.

[0013] 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

[0014] 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 KROMM plants grown outdoors and in a nursery in Jackson, Wis. Plants were initially measured during late Autumn. Age of the plants when described is approximately 16 years old. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. [0015] Botanical classification: Tilia americana KROMM.

PROPAGATION Trees are typically chip bud grafted. A 5 to 6 foot whip will result from a chip bud in approximately 2 years in Southern Wisconsin.

[0016] Root description: Woody. Brown roots not accurately measured with an R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

[0017] Growth habit: Pyramidal tree, somewhat narrow. Dense crown. [0018] Height: 24 feet. [0019] Spread: 10 feet. [0020] Growth rate: 12 to 18 inches of terminal growth per year on a 15 year old plant. 4 to 8 inches of growth per year on lowest {square root over (1/3)} lateral branches. 6 to 12 inches of growth per year on center {square root over (1/3)} lateral branches. [0021] Branch internode length: About 4.5 cm, reducing to 3 cm towards upper crown. [0022] Branch characteristics: [0023] Length.Main branches are 3 to 7 feet long, sub-lateral average length range about 10 to 30 inches. [0024] Diameter.Main branches about 1.5 to 1.75 inches. Sub-lateral diameter about 0.5 inch. [0025] Texture.Smooth with non-scaly striations. [0026] Color.Near RHS Grey 201C. [0027] Aspect and angle: Lowest branches occur at about 85 angle from trunk. Middle branches occur at about 45 angle from trunk. Upper branches occur at about 15 to 20 angle from trunk. [0028] Trunk characteristics: [0029] Diameter.About 7 inches measured at approximately 5 inches above soil level at 15 years. [0030] Color.Near RHS Grey 201B. [0031] Bark texture.Striated ridges. On average 8 to 18 mm wide and about 10 to 20 mm deep. [0032] Other branch and trunk characteristics: [0033] Branch buds.2, or sometimes 3 scales present. Bud shape: broad conical, about 5 to 8 cm long, 4 to 6 cm wide. Coloration (Mid-November): Near Red-Purple 59B, margin 59A, very immature margin near Green 143A. [0034] Lenticels present.Yes. Inconspicuous. [0035] Lenticel length.Less than 1.0 mm. [0036] Lenticel diameter.Less than 0.5 mm. [0037] Lenticel density.Moderate. [0038] Lenticel color.Near RHS Brown N200B.

FOLIAGE

[0039] Leaf: [0040] Arrangement.Alternate. [0041] Average length.Approximately 10 to 11 cm excluding petiole. [0042] Average width.Approximately 8.3 to 9.2 cm. Shape of blade: Asymmetrical broad deltate. [0043] Apex.Acuminate. Acuminate tip 1.0 to 1.5 cm. [0044] Base.Asymmetrical truncate. [0045] Margin.Serrate to double serrate. Serration highly acute but not sharp. [0046] Texture of top surface.Glabrous. [0047] Texture of lower surface.Glabrous. [0048] Color.Young foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Mature foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature Fall foliage (October in Wisconsin): Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A. [0049] Foliage: [0050] Venation.Type: Pinnate. Color: Venation color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B. Petiole: Length: Average 5.5 cm. Diameter: Average 0.2 cm. Color: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.

FLOWER

[0051] Flowering begins: Around Mid June to early July in Wisconsin. [0052] Inflorescence: Compound umbel. Approximately 5 cm in diameter and 4 cm deep. Average 11 flowers per inflorescence. Hanging aspect. The inflorescence emerges from a petiolate bract. [0053] Inflorescence bract. [0054] Average length.Approximately 7 to 11 cm. [0055] Average width.Approximately 11 to 16 mm. [0056] Shape of blade.Oblong. [0057] Apex.Acute. [0058] Base.Truncate. [0059] Margin.Entire. [0060] Texture of top surface.Glabrous. [0061] Texture of lower surface.Glabrous. [0062] Color.Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Fall color near Grey-Brown 199B, upper and lower surfaces. [0063] Inflorescence bract petiole.Length: Unattached average 5 mm, 4 cm further until petiole begins. Diameter: Average 2 mm. Color: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151D. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151C. [0064] Individual flower size: [0065] Diameter.9 to 11 mm. [0066] Length.7 mm. [0067] Petals: [0068] Length.6 mm. [0069] Width.3 mm. [0070] Quantity.5. [0071] Texture.Glabrous. [0072] Apex.Acute. [0073] Base.Truncate. [0074] Margin.Entire. [0075] Color: [0076] Upper surface.Near Yellow-White 158C. [0077] Lower surface.Near Yellow-White 158C. [0078] Calyx/sepals: [0079] Quantity per flower.5. [0080] Shape.Narrow deltate, strongly convex. [0081] Length.6 mm. [0082] Width.3 mm. [0083] Apex.Acute. [0084] Base.Truncate. [0085] Margin.Entire. [0086] Texture.Glabrous. [0087] Color.Upper Surface: Near Yellow-Green 151C. Lower Surface: Near Yellow-Green 151B. [0088] Peduncle: [0089] Length.Average 5.5 cm. [0090] Diameter.1-2 mm. [0091] Color.Near Yellow-Green N144B. [0092] Texture.Glabrous. [0093] Strength.Flexible and moderately strong. [0094] Pedicel. [0095] Length.8 to 25 mm. [0096] Diameter.1 mm. [0097] Color.Near Yellow-Green 144B. [0098] Texture.Glabrous. [0099] Strength.Flexible and moderately strong.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0100] Gynoecium: [0101] Pistil: [0102] Number.1. [0103] Length.9 mm. [0104] Style.Length: 5 mm. Color: Near Yellow-Green 154D. [0105] Stigma.Shape: Linear. Color: Near Greyed-Orange 178A. [0106] Ovary.Ovary shape: Spherical. Ovary size: 5 mm diameter. Ovary Color: Near Yellow-Green 150B. [0107] Androecium: [0108] Stamens: [0109] Number.5 to 7 clusters of 5. [0110] Filament length.2 to 4 mm. [0111] Anthers: [0112] Length.Less than 1 mm. [0113] Shape.Linear. [0114] Color.Near Greyed-Red 178B. [0115] Pollen.Scant or none. Colored near Greyed Yellow 161D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

[0116] Fruits: Dry nutlets. Spherical, about 8 to 9 mm in diameter. Very short, soft pubescent, velvety. Colored near Grey-Brown 199B. [0117] Disease resistance: Tolerant to normal diseases. [0118] Pest resistance: Tolerant to normal pests. Increased resistance to Japanese beetle. [0119] Drought resistance: Resists late season leaf scorch in Wisconsin which is typically associated with dry conditions. [0120] Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to high temperatures, to 100 F. and low temperatures to at least: 25 F.