USOOPP13464P2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US PP13,464 P2 White (45) Date of Patent: Jan. 7, 2003

(54) PLANT NAMED “BLAPHY (58) Field of Search ...... Plt./263 (76) Inventor: Anthony Robin White, Kilmeston, Primary Examiner Bruce R. Campell Alresford, Hampshire SO24 ONL (GB) ASSistant Examiner Susan B. McCormick (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Mark P. Bourgeois (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 (57) ABSTRACT U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. A new of Phygelius named 'Blaphy that is charac terized by an upright habit, reddish-purple pendulous (21) Appl. No.: 09/957,706 flowers, burgundy Stems and green leaves. In combination 1-1. these traits Set Blaphy apart from all other existing varieties (22) Filed: Sep. 19, 2001 of Phygelius known to the inventor. (51) Int. Cl...... A01H 5/00 (52) U.S. Cl...... Pt/263 2 Drawing Sheets

1 2 BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION Sepal size (Sepals of “Sensation are longer and narrower, ppOOXCTW tely U.0.7 C. longOSC and 0.15U. C. WCC.de) Phygelius. Blaphy was first asexually propagated by the inventor in VARIETY DENOMINATION 5 Hampshire, England in 1998 using softwood cuttings. Since that time, under careful observation, the distiguishing char Blaphy. acteristics have been determined Stable and uniform in Successive generations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION of Phygelius, that is grown for its ornamental pendulous flowers and burgundy Stems. The new cultivar is known The following represent the distinguishing characteristics botanically as PhygeliusXrectus and will be referred to of the new Phygelius cultivar 'Blaphy. In combination hereinafter by the cultivar name 'Blaphy. 15 these traits Set Blaphy apart from all other existing varieties Blaphy is a hybrid and was bred by the inventor in a of Phygelius known to the inventor. Blaphy has not been cultivated area of Hampshire, England. In 1996 the inventor tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differ crossed with Sen ences may be observed with variations in environmental, sation (unpatented). The resulting hybrid was PhygeliusX climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any rectus. In 1997 the inventor crossed PhygeliusXrectus with Variance in genotype. Phygelius aequalis Sensation. A number of Seedlings in various colorS resulted from this Second croSS, Seven of 1. Phygelius Blaphy is 90-120 cm. in height and equally which exhibited rosy-purple coloring. From these Seven the as wide spreading by underground stolons. inventor selected PhygeliusXrectus Blaphy in 1998. The 2. Phygelius Blaphy exhibits reddish-purple flowers in distinguishing characteristics of Blaphy are flower color, 25 Spring and Summer. Stem size and color, and the arrangement of the flowers, 3. Phygelius Blaphy exhibits green leaves and burgundy which is predominately all around the stem, compared with a predominantly one-sided arrangement of the flowers which StemS. is typical of all and of Phygelius known to 4. Phygelius Blaphy tolerates temperatures of minus 5 the inventor. The top growth of Blaphy tolerates tempera Centigrade to minus 8 Centigrade. tures of minus 5 Centigrade to minus 8 Centigrade, while 5. Phygelius Blaphy exhibits an arrangement of flowers the underground Stolons tolerate lower temperatures. AS a being predominantly all around the stem. result Blaphy can be used as a taller in mild climates and as an herbaceous perennial in colder climates. 35 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The closest comparison are the parents PhygeliusX rectuS and the commercial cultivar Phygelius aequalis Sen The accompanying color photographs illustrate the dis sation. Blaphy is distinguishable from PhygeliusXrectus tinguishing traits of the new Phygelius cultivar Blaphy. by its flower color. The flowers of PhygeliusXrectus are a The plants in the photographs were grown out-of-doors in mid tan color, close to RHS 48A. Blaphy is distinguishable 40 from Phygelius aequalis Sensation by its flower size Arroyo Grande, Calif. in two-gallon containers. (diameter of flower apex of 'Sensation does not exceed 1.0 Sheet 1 is a color copy of an original photograph illus cm), color (color of outside corolla of Sensation is lighter trating the entire plant in bloom from a side perspective. purple, varies between RHS67A and RHS67B), stem size (stems of Sensation are thinner, diameters in the range 0.2 45 Sheet 2 is a color copy of an original photograph showing cm to 0.3 cm, color is less dark, approximates to 187C) and a close-up view of the flowers. All photographs were taken US PP13,464 P2 3 4 using conventional techniques and although foliage colors Color of Stipules.-138B. may appear different from actual colors due to light Dimensions of stipules.-1 mm. in width and 1 mm. in reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventional length. photography and conventional copying techniques. Petiole Shape.-Quadrilateral with ridges at corners. Leaf margin.-Crenate. BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT Leaf texture.- Soft and flexible. The following is a detailed description of the Phygelius Leaf length.-7 cm. in length. Leaf width.-4 cm. in width. cultivar named 'Blaphy. Data was collected in Arroyo Leaf color (adaxial Surface).-137A. Grande, Calif. from the inventor and from 12 month old Leaf color (abaxial Surface).-138B. plants grown out-of-doors in two-gallon containers. Color Leaf Surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).-Glabrous and determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticul dull. tural Society Colour Chart except where general color terms Foliar fragrance.- Absent. of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing Flower: requirements are similar to the Species. Under normal grow Inflorescence.- Spike. ing conditions there are no known disease problems known Form.- Solitary. to the inventor. Persistent or Self-cleaning.-Self-cleaning. Color of peduncle.-187A. Botanical classification: PhygeliusXrectus Blaphy. Peduncle length.-1.5 cm. in length. Common name: Cape Fuschia. Uses: Landscape Shrub in mild climates and herbaceous Peduncle diameter:-1 mm. in diameter. perennial in colder climates. Surface of peduncle.-Glabrous. Parent: Blaphy is a hybrid resulting from the induced Angle of peduncle to stem.-45. hybridization of the following plants: Diameter of flower:-0.5 cm at base; 1.0 cm. Below the Female parent.-PhygeliusXrectus. apex. Male parent.-Phygelius aequalis Sensation. Diameter of flower (apex).-1.5 cm-1.8 cm. Type: Ornamental shrub. Depth of flower (corolla tube).-3.5 cm. in depth. Vigor: Vigorous. Length of flower (tube and lobes).-4 cm. in length. Habit: Upright. Shape.- Tubular with five lobes. Height: 40 cm. in height. Sexuality.- Bisexual. Width: 40 cm. in width. Aspect.-Nutant. Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. Bud- Tubular and nutant. Propagation: Softwood cuttings. Bud Color:-61A. Root system: Fibrous. Petals.-Five in number. Soil: Plant in well-drained soils. Fused or unfused.-Petals are fused. Sunlight: Plant in full sunlight. Petal margin.-Minutely ciliate. Plant sexuality: Bisexual. Color of corolla tube (inside Surface).-162D with Time to initiate roots: 2 weeks are required for an initial veins of 187A. cutting to produce roots. Color of corolla tube (outside surface).-61B. Crop time: 4-8 months are required to produce a finished Calyx dimensions.-0.75 cm. in diameter and 0.75 cm. one-gallon from a rooted cutting. in height. Seasonal interest: Flowers in Spring and Summer. Calyx Surface.-Glabrous. Stem: Calyx color-187A. Branching habit.-Pachycaul with shoots that are erect. Sepals.-Five in number. Internode length.-4 cm. between nodes. Stem diameter:-0.50 cm. near base and 0.25 cm. near Fused or unfused.-Sepals are basally fused. tip. Sepal apex.- Acute. Stem length.- 24 cm. in length. Sepal dimensions.-3 mm. in diameter and 6 mm. in Shape.-Quadrilateral with ridges at corners. length. Surface.-Glabrous. Blooming period.- Spring and Summer. Texture.- Suffruticose at the base and soft toward tips Fragrance.- Absent. of Stems. Reproduction organs: Stem color:-187A. Stamens.-Four in number adnate to corolla tube and Foliage: eXSerted. Type.-Evergreen. Filament attachment to anther:-Dorsifixed. Leaf arrangement.-Opposite and Spiral on Stem. Color of Stamen.-187A. Leaf division.- Simple. Dimensions of Stamen.-1 cm. in length and 2 mm in Leaf Shape.-Lanceolate. diameter. Leaf base.-Cuneate. Anther Surface.--Furrowed and canaliculated on ven Leaf apex.- Acute. tral Surface. Leaf venation.--Pinnate. Dimensions of anther:- 2 mm. in width and 3 mm. in Vein color (adaxial and abaxial Surfaces).-187B. length. Leaf attachment.-Petiolate. Pollen color:-160A. Petiole dimensions.- 2.5 cm. in length and 3 mm. in Anther color:-160A. diameter. Anther Shape.-Oblong. Petiole color:-187B. Pistill-One. Stipules.-Present. Color of pistill-187B. US PP13,464 P2 S 6 Dimensions of pistill-4 cm. in length and less than 1 Ovary Shape.-Piriform. mm. in diameter. Seed: Seed has not been observed to date. Ovary position.--Superior. I claim: Ovary color-187A. 1. A new and distinct variety of Phygelius plant named Ovary dimensions.-6 mm. in height and 3 mm. in Blaphy as described and illustrated. width. k . . . . U.S. Patent Jan. 7, 2003 Sheet 1 of 2 US PP13,464 P2

U.S. Patent Jan. 7, 2003 Sheet 2 of 2 US PP13,464 P2