Gomphrena plant named ‘SAKGOM004’

Genus and species: Gomphrena globosa.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKGOM004’.

The present invention comprises of a new and distinct variety of Gomphrena, botanically known as Gomphrena globosa, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKGOM004’. ‘SAKGOM004’ originated from a controlled cross in July 1998 in Misato, Japan between the proprietary female Gomphera breeding line ‘95G-11A-6E-1’ (unpatented) having white flowers and a semi-creeping plant growth habit and the proprietary male Gomphera breeding line ‘95G-11A-2A-3’ (unpatented) having magenta flowers and a semi-creeping plant growth habit. 30 F 1 seeds were obtained and evaluated from the original cross.

In April 1999, the 30 F 1 seeds were sowed and 8 plants were cultivated. In July 1999, 3 plants were then chosen having purple flower color. Between July 1999 and February 2009, seeds from the 3 chosen plants were cross-pollinated and seeds were obtained. In February 2009, 2000 seeds were sowed and 1000 plants were cultivated based on whether plants had purple flowers, purple flowers with white tips, and white flowers and whether plants had an upright plant growth habit or a spreading plant growth habit. In April 2009, a single plant was selected from this group having purple flowers and a spreading plant growth habit.

From May 2009 to December 2009, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. Vegetative cuttings of the variety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated and reevaluated for stability of traits. The selection subsequently was named ‘SAKGOM004’ and was found to have its unique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Purple flowers; and 2. A spreading plant growth habit.

This Gomphrena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of plants grown about 2 months old in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the summer of 2013. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the mature flowers of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKGOM004’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on 2 month old plants under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer of 2013. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4 th edition (2001).

Classification:

Family.— Amaranthaceae. Botanical.—Gomphrena globosa. Common.— Globe amaranth. Designation.— ‘SAKGOM004’.

Parentage:

Female parent.— Proprietary Gomphrena line ‘95G-11A-6E-1’ (unpatented). Male parent.— Proprietary Gomphrena line ‘95G-11A-2A-3’ (unpatented).

Growth:

Time to produce a rooted cutting.— 2 weeks. Environmental conditions for plant growth.— The terminal 1.0 to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks. The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution:9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and grown in 20 cm plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every other day by overhead irrigation. Plants were fertilized every 2 to 3 days, 2 times in consecutive applications and then given one clear water application. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 14% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C. Time to bloom from propagation.— 6 to 8 weeks.

Plant description:

Habit.— Upright, freely branching. Form.— Prostrate. Life cycle.— Annual. Height ( from soil line to top of foliage ).—23.0 cm; 1.0 cm from soil line to first node. Spread.— 50.0 cm. Flowering requirements.— Spring to fall, will flower year round at temperatures of 24 to 35° C.

Stems:

Quantity.— Numerous. Stem length.— 11.0 cm. Diameter.— 0.2 cm. Internode length.— 5.0 cm. Color.— RHS 138A (Green). Pubescence.— Heavy, long, hair-like, RHS N155A (White). Anthocyanin color.— RHS 59A (Red-Purple).

Branches:

Quantity.— 3 main. Color.— RHS 138A (Green). Anthocyanin.— RHS 59A (Red-Purple). Pubescence.— Heavy, long, hair-like, RHS N155A (White). Appearance.— Dull, circular in cross-section. Length.— 8.0 cm. Diameter.— 0.4 cm. Internode length.— 3.0 cm.

Leaves:

Arrangement.— Alternate. Shape.— Lanceolate. Apex.— Acute. Base.— Decurrant. Margin.— Entire. Surface appearance ( both surfaces ).—Dull. Surface pubescence ( both surfaces ).—Present, long, hair-like fibers, N155A (White). Length.— 6.0 cm. Width.— 1.6 cm. Diameter.— Less than 0.1 cm. Color.— Upper surface: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green). Lower surface: RHS 147C (Yellow-Green). Venation.— Pinnate. Fragrance.— Absent.

Inflorescence:

Type and appearance.— Small, globose-shaped bracts; flowers are upright and outwardly facing; flowers are sessile with a single two-parted perianth; inflorescence heads are subtended by two small flower bracts. Total number of flowers per plant.— Approximately 200. Number of flowers per inflorescence.— 100 to 150. Flowering habit.— Freely flowering. Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.— Approximately 4 weeks. Fragrance.— Absent. Inflorescence height.— 2.0 cm. Inflorescence depth.— 1.5 cm. Inflorescence color.— RHS N81A (Purple-Violet). Flower height.— 0.7 cm. Flower diameter.— 4.0 cm. Sepals.— None observed.

Flower bud:

Surface texture.— Smooth, glabrous. Length.— 0.8 cm. Diameter.— 0.5 cm. Shape.— Lanceolate. Color.— RHS N81A (Purple-Violet).

Bracts:

Quantity.— 2. Arrangement.— Opposite. Length.— 0.6 cm. Width.— 0.2 cm. Shape.— Lanceolate. Apex.— Acute. Texture.— Smooth, glabrous. Color.— RHS N81A (Purple-Violet).

Peduncle:

Length.— 5.5 cm. Diameter.— 0.1 cm. Angle.— Mostly upright to 40° vertical. Strength.— Strong, moderately. Color.— RHS 138A (Green). Surface texture and appearance.— Dull, moderate pubescence, RHS N155A (White).

Reproductive organs:

Stamen number.— 5 per flower. Stamen color.— RHS N155A (White). Stamen length.— 0.4 cm. Filament length.— 0.3 cm. Filament color.— RHS 143A (Green). Anther length.— 0.5 cm. Anther color.— RHS 155A (White). Pollen color.— RHS 155A (White). Pollen amount.— Sparse. Ovary diameter.— 0.1 cm. Ovary surface color.— RHS 143A (Yellow-Green). Pistil number.— 1 per inflorescence. Pistil length.— 0.06 cm. Stigma shape.— Bi-parted. Stigma color.— RHS N81A (Purple-Violet). Style length.— 0.5 cm. Style color.— RHS N155A (White). Seed production.— Absent. Fragrance.— Absent.

Disease and insect resistance: Tolerant to downy mildew.

‘SAKGOM004’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its pink flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit. ‘SAKGOM004’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color and habit as shown in Table 1 below:

‘SAKGOM004’ is a new and unique variety of Gomphrena owing to its purple flowers. When ‘SAKGOM004’ is compared to the commercial Gomphrena variety ‘Balboa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,263) there are differences as described in the table below.