Petunia plant named ‘USTUN2401M’

Abstract

A new and distinct Petunia plant named USTUN2401M, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; hot pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named USTUN2401M as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

(2) The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of USTUN2401M grown in a container.

(3) The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of USTUN2401M.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18 C. to 27 C. Plants were seven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida USTUN2401M. Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Petunia X hybrida USTUNJ2401, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,028. Propagation: Type.Terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About three to four days at temperatures ranging from 17 C. to 29 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About five to seven days at temperatures ranging from 17 C. to 21 C. Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.About three weeks at temperatures ranging from 17 C. to 29 C. Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.About four weeks at temperatures ranging from 17 C. to 21 C. Root description.Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about seven to eight primary lateral branches with three to four secondary lateral branches per primary lateral branch developing; dense and bushy appearance; pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous growth habit. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.About 9.5 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.About 12 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).About 29 cm. Lateral branches.Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, developing: Close to 144B. Color, developed: Close to 144A. Leaf description: Arrangement.Alternate before flowering; opposite after flowers develop; leaves simple. Length.About 3.6 cm. Width.About 1.8 cm. Shape.Elliptical. Apex.Broadly acute. Base.Attenuate. Margin.Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.Sparsely pubescent; matte. Venation pattern.Pinnate, arcuate. Color.Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C to 147D. Petioles.Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D. Flower description: Flower type and flowering habit.Single axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about more than 100 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season. Natural flowering season.Long day responsive; long flowering period, plants flower from early spring until frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting. Flower longevity on the plant.About four to five days; flowers persistent. Fragrance.None detected. Flower buds.Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 186C. Flower diameter.About 3.6 cm by 3.4 cm. Flower depth (height).About 3.4 cm. Throat diameter, distal.About 9 mm. Tube length.About 2.7 cm. Tube diameter.About 7 mm. Petals.Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal lobe shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Broadly acute. Petal lobe margin: Entire, undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Minute pubescence. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 71C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 186C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 71C; venation, close to 71A; color becoming closer to 71D with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75B; venation, close to 195A; color becoming closer to 76C with development. Flower throat (inside): Close to N77B tinted with close to 64B; venation, close to 64A. Flower tube (outside): Close to N77B; venation, close to 195A. Sepals.Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a single star-shaped whorl. Calyx length: About 1.4 cm. Calyx diameter: About 1.3 cm. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; minute; matte. Color: When developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Peduncles.Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 45 from the stem axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 146C. Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 201C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 97B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.7 cm. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Seeds and fruits.Seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the new Petunia to date. Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1 C. to about 40 C.