Poinsettia plant named ‘PER508’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named PER508, characterized by its compact, uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and upright branching habit; very dark green-colored leaves with sinuate margins that give the leaves a textured appearance; under natural season conditions, plants flower on or about December 5 in Southern California; large inflorescences with burgundy-colored flower bracts; and good post-production longevity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named PER508 as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Poinsettia 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 Poinsettia plant.

(2) The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of PER508 grown in a container.

(3) The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of PER508.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following detailed description were grown during the late autumn/early winter in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under natural season conditions and cultural practices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25 C., night temperatures averaged 20 C. and light levels averaged 5,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were pinched one time and were 20 weeks old when the photographs and the 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: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. PER508. Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. Eckadire, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,846. Propagation: Type.Terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots.About seven to ten days at night temperatures about 20 C. and day temperatures about 27 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant.About four weeks at night temperatures about 20 C. and day temperatures about 27 C. Root description.Fibrous; white in color. Plant description: Plant habit and form.Compact, uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; inverted triangle; large inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit. Plant height.About 36 cm. Plant diameter or spread.About 50 cm. Lateral branch description.Quantity: Freely branching habit, about nine lateral branches develop after pinching; upright branching habit. Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode length: About 2.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright to somewhat outwardly. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Glossy. Color: Close to 146A. Leaf description.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 13.6 cm. Width: About 8.2 cm. Shape: Broadly lanceolate to elliptic with irregular rounded shallow lobes; margins sinuate giving the leaves a textured appearance. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Mostly entire with irregular shallow rounded lobes; sinuate. Aspect: Flat, textured. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Texture, upper surface: Scattered pubescence. Texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent; prominent venation. Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Much darker green than 139A (approaching black); venation, close to N137A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to midvein, close to 147C. Petioles: Length: About 10.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 199A. Inflorescence description: Inflorescence type and habit.Terminal inflorescences are compound corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia; inflorescences uniformly positioned above the foliar plane. Fragrance.None detected. Flowering response.Under natural season conditions, plants typically flower on or about December 5 in Southern California; under artificial long nyctoperiod/short photoperiod conditions, plants flower about eight to nine weeks later. Post-production longevity.Good post-production longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and flower bract color for about four to six weeks under interior conditions; flower bracts persistent and cyathia not persistent. Inflorescence diameter.About 34 cm. Inflorescence height (depth).About 9.5 cm to 10 cm. Flower bracts.Quantity per inflorescence: About 18. Length, largest bracts: About 14.5 cm. Width, largest bracts: About 11.6 cm. Shape: Broadly lanceolate to elliptical with irregular rounded shallow lobes. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Mostly entire with irregular shallow rounded lobes; slightly sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; slightly rugose. Aspect: Upright to horizontal and with development, drooping. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing or transitional bracts, upper surface: Close to 187C. Developing or transitional bracts, lower surface: Close to 184B. Fully expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 187B; color does not fade with development. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to 187D; color does not fade with development. Bract petioles: Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 187B. Cyathia.Quantity per corymb: About 13. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oval. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 146A. Nectaries.Quantity per cyathium: One, occasionally two. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Roughly elliptical to oval. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 169B. Peduncles.Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B. Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity per cyathium: About ten to twelve. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 187C. Anther shape: Round; bi-lobed. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 160A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14B. Pistils: Pistil development has not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia. Seeds and fruits.Seed and fruit production have not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia. Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Poinsettia plants. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 16 C. to about 29 C.