Impatiens plant -- Chickasaw
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present new variety (seedling 76-22-1) was discovered by me in a commercial greenhouse in Fremont, Calif. as a result of the cross pollination of unpatented pistil parent 75-8 and unpatented pollen parent 75-14. 
     Asexual reproduction of my new cultivar by terminal or stem cuttings grown in hanging baskets in a plastic (polyethylene) greenhouse in Fremont, Calif. under normal environmental conditions show that the characteristics described come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. 
     Color readings were taken during daylight hours in full sun, and all colors are based on the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Chickasaw is closest in characteristics to Longwood&#39;s Painted Lady. The following outstanding characteristics of Chickasaw distinguish it from Longwood&#39;s Painted Lady: 
     1. Flower ability equals or surpasses Painted Lady. 
     2. Flower color is salmon to rose-pink, depending on light intensity; Painted Lady is not as dark. 
     3. Variegation is a bright yellow on a moderately light green leaf; high light and age are needed to bring out the variegation. Painted Lady has a darker green leaf with no variegation. 
     4. Chickasaw makes a good basket plant, unlike Painted Lady which has a weaker stem and longer internodes. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
     The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the cultivar Chickasaw showing the colors as true as reasonably possible for this type of colored reproduction. However, under low light and cool temperatures the flower color darkens; under the low light of winter, the variegation may not show. Under high light the variegation width increases and becomes more distinctive. The second photograph illustrates the leaf variability under different environmental conditions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of Chickasaw was based on observations made of the new cultivar on Jan. 13, 1977. 
     I. PLANT 
     Name: Chickasaw 
     Origin: Seedling 76-22-1 of cross pollination of unpatented pistil parent 75-8 and unpatented pollen parent 75-14. 
     Form: Upright with spreading tendency. 
     Height to flowering: 15 to 30 cm. 
     Growth: Moderate. 
     Type of cutting: Terminal or stem. 
     Rooting time: Typical, 10-14 days. 
     Rooting habit: Fast, dendritic. 
     II. FOLIAGE 
     Arrangement: Lower leaves opposite (usually just one set); upper foliage of any break whorls of 3 with a few 4&#39;s. 
     Shape: Older leaf in oblanceolate, newer leaves are elliptic. 
     Tip: Obtuse to abruptly acuminate. 
     Base: Attenuate. 
     Margin: At base ciliate to finely serrulate at tip. 
     Venation: Pinnate. 
     Size: Blade and petiole 8.5 to 9 cm., length of blade 7 to 8 cm., width at widest point 3 to 3.5 cm. 
     Surface: 
     1. Smoothness.--Occasionally crinkled. 
     2. Texture.--Glabrous, typically waxy. 
     Variegation: Light and high fertilization influence both size of the leaf and variegation observed. High light and age of cutting increase variegation, whereas low light and high fertilization reduce variegation and increase leaf size. 
     Color: 
     1. Petiole.--52B. 
     2. veins.--48C, upper veins fade. 
     3. Leaf.--a. Upper 137A. b. Lower 138B. 
     4. variegation.--a. Edge 154A. b. Middle 10C. c. Center 10C. 
     III. STEM 
     Color: 50B (variable, nodes darker). 
     Internode: 
     1. Length.--Moderate. 
     2. Size.--Small to moderate. 
     Node expanded (relative to internode): Little, if any. 
     Breaking action: Very good. 
     IV. FLOWER 
     Form: Typical. 
     Borne: End of branches, terminal. 
     Blooming habit: 
     1. Relative number.--Very good to profuse. 
     2. Time to flowering.--Short, as with Longwood&#39;s Painted Lady. 
     3. Longevity.--Typical, 3-5 days. 
     Size of mature flower: First flower on a plant may be small. 
     1. Length.--4.0 to 5 cm. 
     2. Width.--4.0 to 4.5 cm. 
     3. Spur.--5.0 to 5.5 cm. 
     Color: Lighter pink under high light and heat. 
     1. Eye.--58B. 
     2. middle.--52B through D depending on age and portion of petal. 
     3. Edge.--Whitish trim on outer edge of flower -- 36D. 
     pedicel.--49A. 
     V. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
     Stamen: 
     
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1. Anthers                                                                
                  Typical, fused hood over pistil                         
2. Filaments                                                              
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     3. Pollen.--a. Color: 158C. b. Abundance: Typical, plenty. 
     Pistils: 
     
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1. Style                                                                  
                    Typical but small                                     
2. Ovaries                                                                
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     VI. OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 
     Disease: Chickasaw is no more susceptible than other varieties to most soft rots.