<i>Euphorbia </i>plant named ‘WALEULITR’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Euphorbia named WALEULITR that is distinguished by compact rounded habit. After the first season of growth, plants of WALEULITR are 15 cm. in height and 20 cm. in diameter. After three years of growth in a larger container or in-ground, plants of WALEULITR are 35 cm. in height and 50 cm. in diameter. WALEULITR exhibits small lime-green cyathia in spring and summer. Each cyathium opens to display shallow cup-shaped lime-green petal-like bracts from whose center a solitary female flower emerges, then bends away and is replaced by four or five male flowers. The female flower is surrounded by lime- green or pink-red horned glands which present as a pink-red eye. WALEULITR is hardy to USDA Zone 6, is drought-tolerant and is suitable for use in containers, rock gardens, and as a groundcover in the landscape.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia plant named WALEULITR as described and illustrated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying color photographs FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 illustrate the overall appearance of the new Euphorbia cultivar WALEULITR showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety WALEULITR.

(2) The photograph labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates a one-year-old plant of WALEULITR in its spring foliage.

(3) The photograph labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates an established plant of WALEULITR in its late summer and early fall foliage.

(4) The photograph labeled as FIG. 3 presents a close-up view of the cyathium of WALEULITR.

(5) The photograph labeled as FIG. 4 illustrates an established two-year-old plant of WALEULITR with its winter foliage.

(6) The photographs were made from plants grown out of doors in Walberton, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The illustrated plants had not been pruned or treated with any plant growth regulator. The colors in the drawings are as accurate as possible by conventional photography and may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(7) The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Euphorbia cultivar WALEULITR. Observations, measurements, values and comparisons were collected in Santa Barbara, California from 2-litre container plants that were 12-months-old at the time and which had been grown out-of-doors in full sun or, as needed, in light shade. Color determinations are made in accordance with the 2007 edition of the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements of the new variety are similar to the species. Botanical classification: Genus.Euphorbia. Species.martinii. Variety.WALEULITR. Common name.Spurge. Parentage: Euphorbia WALEULITR is a naturally occurring single branch sport discovered on an individual plant of the following parent: Euphorbia martinii WALEUTINY (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,930). Plant description: Commercial classification.Perennial or sub-shrub. Size.Dwarf. Asexual propagation method.Vegetative tip and stem (internodal) cuttings. Rooting habit.Fine. Time to develop roots.2 weeks are needed for roots to develop on an initial cutting. Temperature recommended to develop roots.18 Centigrade. Crop time.8 months are needed to produce a finished and flowering plant in a 1-litre container from planting a rooted cutting or young plant. Growth habit.Compact, naturally branching prolifically. Plant shape.Ball-shaped. Use.Ornamental plant suitable for use in container, rock garden, and as a groundcover for the landscape. Type.Perennial or sub-shrub. Vigor.Moderate vigor. Height of plant (after one season).15 cm. in height at the top of the foliage and 30 cm. in height at the top of the flowers. Width of plant (after one season).20 cm. in width. Cultural requirements.Sun or partial shade and well-draining soil. WALEULITR is drought-tolerant. Susceptibility to pests.Can be affected by aphids (Aphidae spp.), red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), and whitefly (order Trialeurodes). Susceptibility to diseases.Can be affected by mildew (Ascomycete fungi) or rust diseases (order Pucciniales). Hardiness.At least hardy to USDA Zone 6. Special considerations.Hazardous sap. All parts exude a cream-white (NN155B) milky sap which, if typical of the genus, is liable to be toxic if ingested or to cause dermal irritation after contact. Stem: Branching habit.Central trunk with many branching stems. Trunk dimensions.2.5 cm. in diameter and 3 cm. in height. Trunk shape.Cylindrical. Trunk surface.Pubescent. Trunk color.Individual colors 183A and 144B are present on an individual trunk. Lateral stem color.Individual colors 183A and 144B are present on an individual lateral stem. Lateral stem shape.Cylindrical. Lateral stem diameter.5 mm. in diameter tapering to 3 mm. close to first leaf pairs. Lateral stem length.Lateral stem ranges from 12 cm. to 15 cm. in length. Lateral stem surface.Pubescent. Internode length.3 mm. Foliage: Type.Evergreen. Leaf arrangement.Opposite pairs arranged spirally. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf shape.Narrow, oblanceolate. Leaf length.Ranges between 6 cm. and 8 cm. Leaf width.Individual leaf ranges from 5 mm. to 10 mm. Leaf apex.Apiculate. Leaf base.Attenuate. Quantity of leaves.A range of 65-75 leaves per stem. Leaf venation pattern.Pinnate. Veins very faintly visible except prominent mid-vein of lighter color (adaxial surface only). Mid-vein color (adaxial surface).138C. Margin.Entire. Leaf surface (abaxial surface).Pubescent. Leaf surface (adaxial surface).Pubescent. Leaf appearance (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).Matte. Leaf attachment.Sessile. Leaf colors (spring, first growing season) Both surfaces.Ranging between yellow-green 153B and N144B. Leaf colors (late summer and fall) Both surfaces.Older, lower leaves exhibit spring colors 153B-N144B. Recently emerged uppermost leaves will become grey-range N163B in color, notably in bright fall days and cool nights. Leaf fragrance.None observed. Flower: Type of inflorescence.Cyathium, consisting of cupped petal-like bracts subtending a solitary central pedicellate female flower which ages and bends away to be replaced by four or five male flowers. Blooming season.Spring and summer. Dimensions of individual cyathium.8 mm. in height (from bract perimeter to bract base), and 12 mm. in diameter. Cyathium arrangement.Whorled. Number of cyathia per peduncle.20-22 cyathia per peduncle. Quantity of cyathia per pedicel.2. Aspect.Facing upward and outward. Bud (closed bracts) shape.Oval, apex acute, base obtuse. Bud dimensions.4 mm. in length and 3 mm. in diameter. Bud surface.Glabrous. Bud color.145A. Peduncle (subtends cyathia cluster).Dimensions: 9 cm. in length, 4 mm. in diameter. Peduncle color: 145A Peduncle shape: Cylindrical. Peduncle appearance: Semi-glossy. Peduncle surface: Mostly glabrous but with a few hairs. Perianth.Absent. Bracts.Number, arrangement: 4 in total as 2 opposite pairs. Shape: Deltoid in adjacent pairs, fused at pair base, otherwise free. Apex: Horned. Color (both surfaces): 144B. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse apex. Base: Truncate. Nectarous glands (nectaries).Number, arrangement: Four spherical nectarous glands borne on and along hair-like stems emerging from base of bracts and arranged around the female flower pedicel. Nectary surface.Glabrous, glossy. Nectaries colors.Either N144A or 183A. Lastingness of cyathium on plant.An individual cyathium lasts from 10 to 15 days on an individual plant. Lastingness of cyathium (when removed from plant).Cyathium lasts an average of 24 hours when removed from plant. Cyathium fragrance.None observed. Female Flowers and Reproductive Organs: Position.Solitary flower whose pedicel emerges from the center of the bract bases. Pedicel.Dimensions: 3 mm.-5 mm. in length, 1.0-1.5 mm in diameter. Color: 155C. Texture: Soft and flexible. Shape: Cylindrical. Surface: Puberulent. Pistil.1 in number. Dimensions: 3 mm. in length, 1 mm. in width, Color: 144A. Style.1 in number. Dimensions: 1 mm. in length and 0.1 mm. in width Color: N144A. Stigma.3 in number, longitudinally fused. Dimensions: Tiny, less than 0.5 mm. in length or diameter. Color: N144D. Ovary.Ovary shape: Ellipsoidal, five-parted Locules (carpels): 5 Ovary surface: Pubescent. Ovary dimensions: 1.50 mm. in width and 1.50 mm. in height. Ovary color: 144A. Ovary position: Superior. Male flowers and Reproductive Organs: Male flowers emerge around base of female flower as female flower ages and bends away. Pedicel.Dimensions: 3 mm.-5 mm. in length, 1.0-1.5 mm in diameter. Color: 155C. Shape: Cylindrical. Surface: Puberulent. Stamens.3-4 in number. Stamen dimensions.1 mm.-2 mm. in length and less than 0.5 mm. in diameter. Anther dimensions.0.50 mm. in length and approximately 0.25 mm. in width. Anther shape.Bifid. Anther color.20A. Pollen color.No pollen has been observed. Seed: No seed has been observed to date.

COMPARISON OF WALEULITR WITH ITS SPORT PARENT VARIETY WALEUTINY AND WITH OTHER COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

(8) WALEULITR is distinguishable from the parent plant WALEUTINY by foliage color, as follows. The foliage of WALEUTINY is uniformly green throughout the season. The foliage of WALEULITR is mid-green in color in late spring, becoming golden and then bronze in color in late summer and early fall.

(9) WALEULITR may also be distinguished from plants of its species Euphorbia x martinii, which is widely available in commerce. The foliage of Euphorbia x martinii is entirely grey-green in color.

(10) A widely available variety of Euphorbia x martinii is Ascot Rainbow (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,401). Whereas the foliage of WALEULITR is either green or gold or bronze in color as the season progresses, it is not a variegated variety. Ascot Rainbow bears variegated foliage with yellow margins and bears variegated bracts.

(11) In summary, in comparison with its sport parent and with other varieties of the species Euphorbia x martinii, WALEULITR exhibits novel lighter and brighter foliage color changes throughout the growing season.