Brachycome multifida cultivar Metallic Blue.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant, botanically known as Brachycome multifida and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Metallic Bluexe2x80x99.
The new Brachycome was discovered by the Inventor in Croydon, Victoria, Australia as a seedling from a random cross of two unidentified selections of Brachycome multifida, not patented. The new Brachycome was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Croydon, Victoria, Australia in 1991. The selection of the new Brachycome was based on its upright growth habit and inflorescences with light violet-colored ray florets. Compared to plants of the parent selections, plants of the new Brachycome have a more upright plant growth habit, darker green-colored leaves and larger inflorescences.
Asexual reproduction of the new Brachycome by cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Montrose, Victoria, Australia, since 1991, has shown that the unique features of this new Brachycome are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
The new Brachycome has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of xe2x80x98Metallic Bluexe2x80x99 and distinguish the new Brachycome as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Upright and rounded plant growth habit.
2. Large inflorescences with light violet-colored ray florets.
3. Erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.
Plants of the new Brachycome can be compared to plants of the cultivar City Lights, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,646. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in St. Richmond, Victoria, Australia, plants of the new Brachycome differed from plants of the cultivar City Lights in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Brachycome were more upright and taller than plants of the cultivar City Lights.
2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Brachycome had fewer ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar City Lights.
3. Plants of the new Brachycome and the cultivar City Lights differed in ray floret coloration.
4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Brachycome had smaller discs than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar City Lights.
Plants of the new Brachycome can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Billabong Mauve Delight, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,889. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in St. Richmond, Victoria, Australia, plants of the new Brachycome differed from plants of the cultivar Billabong Mauve Delight in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Brachycome were more upright and taller than plants of the cultivar Billabong Mauve Delight.
2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Brachycome were larger and had more ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Billabong Mauve Delight.
3. Plants of the new Brachycome and the cultivar Billabong Mauve Delight differed in ray floret coloration.
4. Plants of the new Brachycome had longer peduncles than plants of the cultivar Billabong Mauve Delight.