USPP1596P - Dicentra plant - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1957 MANSKE Plant Pat. 1,596

DICENTRA PLANT Filed Sept. 17, 1956 I NV E N T 0 R United States Patent DICENTRA PLANT Richard H. F. Manske, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, assignor to John J. Grullemans, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 17, 1956, Serial No. 610,429

1 Claim. (Cl. 47-60) This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dicentra plant.

The new variety was first developed by me at Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and was asexually reproduced by me at Guelph, Ontario, Canada by root division.

The new variety was developed in the following manner:

A Dicentra Oregana Eastwood plant, as a seed parent, was crossed with a Dicentra eximza (Ker) Torrey plant, as a pollen parent. Neither of these parent plants is patented.

Seeds from this crossing were planted in beds in close proximity to each other and allowed to cross pollinate freely. Seeds from this first mass planting and natural cross pollination were then planted in beds in close proximity and exposed to open pollination. Seeds from this second mass planting were planted and the new variety was selected from the resulting seedlings.

The drawing The new variety is illustrated in the drawing in which the large central illustration shows typical leaf and flower stalks of the plant while in bloom, and the three smaller illustrations therebeneath show, from left to right, a single bangle in front elevation, bottom plan view, and side elevation, respectively.

Color references herein are to the Maerz & Paul Dictionary of Color.

The root of the plant The present new variety of Dicentra plant has the usual fibrous roots of the usual size for Dicentra plants. The roots are resistant to both wetness and drought, and when unprotected, have withstood temperatures as low as 20 below zero Fahrenheit in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

The exposed plant structure The exposed part of the plant is herbaceous and bushy, reaching a height of about 12" to 16" with a spread of 16" to 18" when the plant is from two to three years old. The exposed part of the plant is quite symmetrical and regular in outline.

The plant has a moderately vigorous growth. Its foliage dries out at lower temperatures, whether the plant is protected or not, but in general the foliage is resistant to drought and wet seasons. So far as can be observed, none of the plants of this variety has ever been damaged by insect pests.

The plant produces its best foliage when growing in moderate sun or partial shade in well-drained rich humus soil.

The plant blooms best in a temperate climate. It prefers a range from Virginia, United States of America, northward to Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It blooms best in a partial shade in a rather wet cool season. The quality of the blooms is best when the plant is growing in a well-drained, though moist, soil. The plant is essentially a cooler climate plant and does best in short daylight. The cutting of the blooms does not appear to have any effect on the blooming characteristics.

The parts of the exposed plant The main stalks of the plant are generally uniform in color, being a green comparable to Plate 21-K-1. They range from approximately 12" to 18" in length and have a smooth surface texture. They are grouped and diverge upwardly from the roots.

Foliage The foliage is generally dense and lacey, the leaf arrangement being compound. The leaves are basal. They are abundant and of the usual size. In shape, they are compound pinnate with serrated margins and acute apices, and are tapering at the base. They are of medium thickness with smooth upper and lower faces. On the upper faces they are an American green or jade-sheen, comparable to Plate 22-A-7. On the underside they are a green comparable to Plate 2l-C-6. Their persistency on the plant is excellent.

The leaf stems average from 10" to 12" in length and have a smooth surface texture. They are of medium strength and free from stipules.

Buds and blooms The buds are terminal and supported pendantly. They are of the usual surface texture and have the sepals like those of other varieties of Dicentra plants. The pedicels or individual stalks of the flowers are pale green, comparable to Plate 21-K-1. They are of medium strength.

The present variety blooms very strongly in the spring and again in the fall with intermittent blooming periods between the spring and fall seasons. The bangles are somewhat larger than the bangles of the Dicentra oregana or the Dicentra eximia ancestors, being about double the size of the common bleeding heart plant.

The permanence of the blooms on the plant is excellent and when cut is fair. Young plants bear somewhat less abundantly than young Dicentra plants of the variety known as Bountiful and described in Plant Patent 1,198 of June 23, 1953. When the plants are three years old, however, they are as productive of blooms as the Dicentra plant Bountiful.

The plant adapts itself well to various latitudes, climates and soils. It is more robust than either the Dicentra oregana or the Dicentra eximia ancestors and, owing to its partial sterility, the plant blooms more profusely and for a longer period of time than either of its original ancestors.

The most predominant feature distinguishing it from any of its ancestors and the Dicentra variety of Plant Patent No. 1,198 is the color of its large bangles.

The main body of the bangles is an off-white, comparable to Plate 17-B-1. The two outwardly flaring tips or spurs at the bottom of each bangle are a pale yellowish green, comparable to Plate 18-F-l. The winglike section of each bangle, formed by the crests of the inner petals and extending forwardly and rearwardly at the bottom of the bangle is a dull purple or violet, comparable to Plate 54-J-4. The small triangular portion appearing at the lower tip of each bangle and disposed centrally between the outer petals and extending laterally of the bangle and formed by the inner petals adjacent their crests, is a white, comparable to Plate 17-A-l.

The color of the heart-like cap at the juncture of the stem and the bangle is flax, comparable to Plate l2-B2.

At the opposite sides, respectively, of each bangle, as illustrated in the side elevation at the extreme right in the lower illustrations of an individual bangle, are thin 3 purplish-pink lines, respectively, which extend about halfway down the sides of the bangles. These lines are colored purple-pink, comparable to Plate 49-H-7.

This coloring of the bangles is very distinctive and results in very attractive individual bangles and blooms,

and very attractive general tonality of the plant when viewed from a distance.

4 The genital organs and fruit of the new variety are usual, the seeds being small and reniform.

Having illustrated and described my new variety of Dicentra plant, I claim:

The new variety of Dicentra plant herein shown and described.

No references cited.

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