Impatiens plant named ‘Balfusradn’

Latin name of genus and species of claimed plant: Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricoma.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfusradn’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricoma , and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfusradn’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventors in a controlled breeding program during November 1999 at Elburn, Ill. The objective of the breeding program was to develop Impatiens cultivars with numerous flowers, new and unique flower shape and colors, excellent basal branching, and upright compact to moderate growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of ‘Balfusradn’ was the proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection designated ‘9516-2’ (not patented) characterized by its upright growth habit, coral-colored flowers, and medium green-colored foliage. The male (pollen) parent of ‘Balfusradn’ was the proprietary Impatiens auricoma selection designated ‘193’ (not patented) characterized by its upright growth habit, yellow-colored flowers, and dark green-colored foliage. ‘Balfusradn’ was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross in April of 2000 at Elburn, Ill. and initially designated ‘PAS 32-03’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by shoot tip or stem cuttings taken since April 2000 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

It was repeatedly found that the cultivar of the present invention:

1. Exhibits single, cupped, light orange-colored flowers,

2. Forms medium green-colored foliage,

3. Exhibits an upright and mounded growth habit, and

4. Exhibits a good basal branching character.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color, flower shape and leaf shape and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color, flower shape, leaf size and branching habit.

Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to ‘Balfusnset’ (disclosed in related U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/736,726). Both ‘Balfusradn’ and ‘Balfusnset’ were derived from the same two parental lines, however, ‘Balfusradn’ exhibits light orange-colored flowers whereas ‘Balfusnset’ exhibits dark orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to plants of ‘96-009-4’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,973). In a side by side comparison conducted in West Chicago, Ill., plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of ‘96-009-4’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have a more compact growth habit than plants of ‘96-009-4’, and

2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers than plants of ‘96-009-4’.

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describe the colors of ‘Balfusradn’. The plants were grown for 13 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfusradn’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Balfusradn’.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1995 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 3, 2003 between 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. under natural light conditions.

The following measurements and comparisons describe plants produced from shoot tip or stem cuttings taken from stock plants and grown under greenhouse conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 15 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 72° F. during the day and approximately 65° F. during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at approximately 4,000-6,000 footcandles during the day.

Botanical classification:— Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricoma cultivar ‘Balfusradn’.

Parentage:

Female ( seed ) parent .—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection designated ‘9516-2’ (not patented).

Male ( pollen ) parent .—Proprietary Impatiens auricoma selection designated ‘193’ (not patented).

Propagation:

Type cutting .—Shoot tip or stem (with two nodes).

Time to initiate roots .—Approximately 7-14 days.

Time to develop a rooted cutting .—Approximately 21 days.

Root description .—Fine, fibrous.

Rooting habit .—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Habit of growth .—Moderately vigorous with good basal branching. A mature plant, 15 weeks after the planting of a rooted cutting, commonly measures approximately 28.4 cm in height and approximately 30 cm in width.

Plant form .—Upright and mounded.

Lateral branches .—Quantity: Approximately 2. Length: Approximately 22.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146C. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately 2.9 cm.

Foliage .—Type: Simple. Arrangement of lower leaves: Alternate. Arrangement of upper leaves: Whorls. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acuminate/cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate with ciliation. Texture of upper and lower surface: Glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Size of mature foliage: Length: Approximately 7.4 cm. Width: Approximately 4 cm. Color of mature foliage: Upper surface is 137A with veins of and mid-vein of 144D. Lower surface is slightly lighter than 137C with veins and mid-vein of 144D. Petiole: Diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Length: Approximately 2 cm with 2 mm stipules along edges. Texture of upper and lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surface: 144D.

Flower description:

Flower type .—Single, not fragrant with self-cleaning petals.

Flowering habit .—Freely flowering with flowers positioned above the foliage and facing outward.

Natural flowering season .—Year-round in greenhouse environment. Flowering is continuous from spring until fall in the garden.

Flower longevity on plant .—Approximately 5 days.

Quantity of flowers .—Approximately 5 flowers and 5 buds per stem at any one time.

Mature flower buds ( just before opening ).—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 32D.

Flower shape .—Oval, cupped when first open becoming more flat with age.

Flower size .—Length: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width: Approximately 3 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.4 cm.

Petals .—Number: Five per flower. All petals: Texture: Glabrous. Appearance: Iridescent.

Superior petal .—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.1 cm. Shape: Cucullate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Truncate. Color of upper surface: 12D. Color of lower surface: 12D.

Lateral petals .—Length: 1.6 cm. Width: 1.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Color of upper surface: 12D with faint area of 28C along margin of lower edge. Color of lower surface: 12D.

Lower petals .—Length: 2.2 cm. Width: 1.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Color of upper surface: 12D with center of petal having a central area of 28A and veins of 46A along edges. Color of lower surface: 12D.

Peduncles .—Strength: Strong. Angle to stem: Acute. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145A.

Calyx .—Consists of 3 sepals. Lateral sepals: Length: Approximately 9 mm. Width: Approximately 5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of both surfaces: 145D with tip of 155A. Lower sepal: Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 9 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of both surfaces: 145D with tip of 155A. Base of lower sepal is modified to form spur.

Spur .—Quantity: One per flower. Double tipped. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter at flower: Approximately 2 mm. Diameter of tips: Approximately 1 mm. Aspect: Moderately curved downward. Color: First 5 mm from base: 36B. Center 5 mm of length: 145C. Last 5 mm ending at tip: N144B.

Reproductive organs .—Androecium: Five stamens, anthers are fused together forming one organ that surrounds the pistil. Filament color: 15C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Approximately 2 mm. Anther color: N78D. Pollen: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil number: One per flower. Pistil length: 6 mm. Stigma shape: Five pointed star. Stigma length: 5 mm. Stigma color: 54D, translucent. Style length: 1.5 mm. Style color: Colorless, translucent. Ovary length: 5 mm. Ovary diameter: 2 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 149A.

Seed and fruit development: Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.

Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens has not been observed.