Lippia plant named 'ECOLOPIA2'

Abstract

A new and distinct Lippia cultivar named ‘ECOLOPIA2’ is disclosed, characterized by tolerance to humidity and disease, tall height and large leaf size. Flowers are uniquely light purple The new variety is a Lippia, useful for a variety of horticultural purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lippia plant named ‘ECOLOPIA2’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0031] The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typical flowers and foliage of a plant of ‘ECOLOPIA2’ grown outdoors in Oyama, Japan.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a rooted stem with inflorescence.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a mass planting view of the plant grown outdoors.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a comparison of foliage. Foliage of ‘ECOLOPIA2’ is farthest left in the photo. The center leaf in the photo is the seed parent foliage, farthest right is the pollen parent foliage. Plants are typically grown as ground cover, the plants illustrated are planted directly in the ground. 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

[0035] 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 ‘ECOLOPIA2’ plants grown both outdoors and in a temperature controlled greenhouse in Oyama, Japan. Temperatures ranged from −7° C. to 25° C. at night to 3° C. to 50° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Plants were grown both outside research field with plowed soil supplemented with fertilizer containing 8%N, 8%P, and 8%K, and in temperature-controlled and uncontrolled greenhouses in a mixture of Kanuma soil, peat and vermiculite supplemented with the same fertilizer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. [0036] Botanical classification: Lippia nodiflora ‘ECOLOPIA2’. [0037] Propagation: [0038] Time to initiate roots.—3 to 7 days at approximately 23 ° C. [0039] Root description.—Thin root stretching to downward reaching as deep as 3 feet or deeper with sandy soil. [0040] Plant: [0041] Age of plant described.—Approximately 90 days from rooted cutting. [0042] Time of year.—Jul. 2014. [0043] Growth habit.—Creeping, creating a dense mat. [0044] Planting description.—Not in a pot, planted in the ground outside of greenhouse. [0045] Height.—4 to 5 cm. [0046] Plant spread.—136 cm diameter, maximum in a year. [0047] Growth rate.—Vigorous. [0048] Branching characteristics.—Dense. [0049] Length of primary lateral branches.—68 cm. [0050] Diameter of lateral branches.—5 mm. [0051] Quantity of primary lateral branches.—Many, plant continuously forming branches. [0052] Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form: Round Diameter: 5 mm. Color: Near Green 137A, but darker. Some flushing Brown 200C Texture: Slightly scaly. Strength: Very strong, difficult to break. [0053] Internode length.—3-4 cm. [0054] Foliage: [0055] Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Average Length: 1.2 cm. Average Width: 0.7 cm. Shape of blade: Very round obovate Apex: Broad acute Base: Attenuate Margin: Crenate Texture of top surface: Glabrous Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous Aspect: Slightly upwardly cupped Color: Young foliage upper(front) Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B Young foliage under(back) side: Near RHS Green 137D Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137D Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Near RHS Green 139D Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 139D Petiole: Leaves sessile. [0056] Flower: [0057] Natural flowering season.—May to October. [0058] Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—1-2 months, depend on temperature and light conditions. [0059] Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Terminal umbel. [0060] Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent. [0061] Bud.—Shape: Oval Length: 0.5 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm Color: Near RHS Purple 77A. [0062] Inflorescence.—Depth: 4.0 cm. Diameter: 1.8 cm Average quantity of individual flowers per inflorescence: 55. [0063] Corolla.—Individual flower: Depth: 0.5 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Petals/lobes: Number: 1 Length: 0.5 cm Width: 0.3 cm Shape: Tube, flaring open at very end. Apex: Blunt round. Base: Fused Margin: Ruffled at apex. Texture: Glabrous all surfaces. [0064] Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 75B Lower surface: Near RHS Purple 75B Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 75B Lower surface: Near RHS Purple 75B 91D Throat: Color: Near RHS Purple 76D Texture: Glabrous. Tube: Interior Tube color: Near RHS Purple 75B, base near Yellow-Orange 17A Exterior Tube color: Near RHS Purple 75B Texture: Glabrous. [0065] Calyx.—Form Fused into a tube, Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Sepal texture: Glabrous Sepal color: Upper surface: Near RHS Green 139C Lower surface: Near RHS Green 139C. [0066] Fragrance.—None. [0067] Pedicels.—Not present. [0068] Peduncles.—Length: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: Near RHS Green 139C Texture: Glabrous. [0069] Reproductive organs: [0070] Stamens.—Number (per flower): 4 Filament length: 0.05 cm Anthers: Shape: Linear Length: 0.05 cm Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 17A Pollen: Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 17B Amount: Scant. [0071] Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Minute, not measurable. Color: Yellow-green (144A). Reproductive traits: Sex: Functional male (dioecious). Gynoecium: None. Androcoecium: Stamen number: 7. Anther shape: Narrowly deltoid. Anther attachment: Basifixed. Anther size: About 1 mm. Anther color: Green-white (157D). Amount of pollen: Abundant. Fruit and seed: Male selection. No fruit or seed present. [0072] DNA content.—2C DNA contend was determined following the methods of Shearer and Ranney (2013) using 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorochrome stain and Pisum sativum ‘Ctirad’ as an internal standard with 3 replications. Mean 2C DNA content for ‘NCIV3’ was 4.27±0.07 (SEM) pg, approximately twice the value of I. verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’ with a DNA content of 1.93±0.05 (SEM) pg indicating that ‘NCIV3’ is a tetraploid. [0073] Disease and insect resistance.—No significant disease or insect pests have been observed. [0074] Cold hardiness.—At least USDA zone 5; testing has not been completed in colder zones. [0075] Comparison with commercial cultivars: Table 1 shows comparison of distinguishing characteristics between Ilex verticillata ‘NCIV3’, the female parent (NCSU 1998-538), and the commercial cultivar ‘Southern Gentleman’. ‘NCIV3’ is distinguished from Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’ by having twice the genomic DNA content indicating it is a tetraploid and having a smaller, more compact stature.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison of Ilex verticillata taxa. Taxa Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Ilex verticillata Ilex verticillata Trait Gentleman’ NCSU 1998-538 ‘NCIV3’ Plant height & About About About diameter 96 in. × 96 in. 50 in. × 50 in. 31 in. × 33 in. Plant habit Erect, Rounded Compact, rounded roughly shape rounded shape DNA content (pg) 1.93 ± 0.05 4.33 ± 0.05 4.27 ± 0.07 mean ± SEM Estimated ploidy Diploid. Tetraploid Tetraploid level Sex Male Female Male

Citations:

[0076] Shearer, K. and T. G. Ranney. 2013. Ploidy levels and relative genome sizes of species, hybrids, and cultivars of dogwood (Corunus spp.). HortScience 48(7):825-830.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

[0077] Seeds and fruits: Not observed.

[0078] Disease/pest resistance: Excellent resistance to common disease and pests of Lippia nodiflora. New variety has better resistance to disease under humid and hot conditions than parents.

[0079] Temperature tolerance: Plant of the new hybrid have shown excellent resistance to high and low temperature extremes, having been grown successfully under temperature conditions ranging from a gentle frost outdoors, just below 0 degrees Celsius, to 50 degrees Celsius in an uncontrolled greenhouse.

[0080] Physical durability: New variety has excellent tolerance to be foot traffic.

[0081] Soil pH: New variety has excellent tolerance to a range of soil pH from 4.0-12.0